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I I 



tibe f)enlei? Scboolbogs Series 


HENLEY’S 

AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


BY 

FRANK E. CHANNON 

Author of “ An American Boy at Henley/* 
“ Jackson and His Henley Friends *’ 


Illustrated by 

WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK 


BOSTON 

LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY 
1912 



Copyright^ 1912, 

By Little, Brown, and Company. 
All rights reserved 


Published, September, 1912 


THE COLONIAL PRESS 
C. H. SIMONDS & CO., BOSTON, U. 8. A. 

il^ 

.£ci.A3;e7ia9 

•VUe . ( 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I. A Day with the Denbigh Hounds . 1 

II. Back to Henley 11 

III. Tea with the Doctor .... 21 

IV. Solomon Greenapple .... 32 

V. The Chariot Race .... 39 

VI. A Millionaire’s Son .... 48 

VII. The Gale 55 

VIII. Greenapple Keeps His Word . . 62 

IX. A Record Run 70 

X. A Midnight Trip 79 

XI. The Flag-Raising 86 

XII. The Aftermath 98 

XIII. The School Crew 106 

XIV. A Mystery 112 

XV. Suspicion 119 

XVI. Henley’s Crew on the Thames . 127 

XVII. Celebration 139 

XVIII. The Captain and His Countryman . 147 

XIX. An Interrupted Fight . . . .158 

XX. Greenapple Interviews the Doctor 164 

XXI. The Captain’s Turn . . . .174 

XXII. Oxford 180 

XXIII. The Oxford Results, and a Strange 

Development 190 


VI 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEK 


PAGE 

XXIV. 

The Sailing of the Kate 

. 203 

XXV. 

Foul Weather .... 

. 210 

XXVI. 

Man Overboard! .... 

. 223 

XXVII. 

En Voyage 

. 230 

XXVIII. 

Greenapple Sees Things 

. 244 

XXIX. 

A Visit to Lanberris . 

. 252 

XXX. 

The Whispering Rock . 

. 260 

XXXI. 

Foul Play 

. 268 

XXXII. 

The Police 

. 273 

XXXIII. 

An Early Morning Paper Chase 

. 282 

XXXIV. 

The Mystery Solved . 

. 293 

XXXV. 

The Charade 

. 300 

XXXVI. 

Finale — Under Two Flags 

. 311 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


Almost together they grasped the leathers of 

the runaway Frontispiece 

He charged down the attacking half, and bowl- 
ing him over, made for the three-quarters Page 76 ^ 
“ There’s the door, Greenapple; you’d better get 

out now ” ** 162 

When next they saw him, he was with the 

nearly exhausted man ** 228 ^ 


* t 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN 
CAPTAIN 


CHAPTER I 

A DAY WITH THE DENBIGH HOUNDS 

View Holloa! View Holloa!'’ shouted 
Dobson, with all the power of his lusty British 
lungs, as he reined in his big bay hunter, who 
was fighting hard for his head. 

View Holloa! View Holloa! " echoingly 
yelled Roger Jackson, Dobson's American 
guest, making his chestnut feel the snafile-bit. 

Almost from under the horses' hoofs a patch 
of yellow shot out like a comet from the dense 
wood, and was off and away across country 
before the two boys could draw another breath. 
From the copse came a mad clamor of yelping 
dogs, and a second later the pack burst into 
view — eight, ten, twelve, twenty couples of 
them, with great, lolling, red tongues, long, 
extended tails, and noses glued to ground. 
They topped the ragged hedge; they leaped the 


2 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


fences; they wriggled through almost impossi- 
ble gaps, all in a confused, mad jumble, and 
were away tearing down the hill in hot pursuit 
of King Reynard. 

A scarlet-coated man, with a black velvet 
cap jammed on the back of his head, humped 
up on a great, gray English hunter, came 
whirling around from the other side of the wood. 
Another, and then another raced madly after 
him, and then a lady habited in dark blue, 
with a high silk hat perched rakishly upon her 
golden head, and behind her a perfect mob of 
riders in scarlet and black, all urging their 
mounts at top speed. 

But Roger Jackson and Tommy Dobson 
waited not for these. As the pack got away 
clear, they gave their fighting horses their 
heads, and the thoroughbreds leaped off in 
hot pursuit. 

Down the hillside of close-cropped grass, 
over the running water at the bottom, up the 
steep incline at the other side, and then across 
some ploughed fields, where half a dozen farm 
laborers stopped their work, and clinging to 
the leathers, restrained their excited horses, 
who were showing a decided intention of joining 
in the mad, racing crowd. 

Three fields away across that breezy upland, 
all checkered by stone walls into its neat pano- 


A DAY WITH THE DENBIGH HOUNDS 3 

rama of squares and oblongs, dashed that es- 
caping patch of gold, as Reynard raced hard 
for safety to the next cover. 

It was an inspiring, a splendid sight — a 
sight to set the red blood of any sporting 
man racing through his veins — the Denbigh 
pack, mottled in white, black and cream 
patches, tearing over the uplands, the scarlet 
figures of the two leading huntsmen, with 
long, coiled whips, the two boys close behind 
them, and then the field — forty-five or fifty 
true blues, and a dozen well-mounted ladies, 
all galloping as if their fives depended upon it. 

WeVe got well away, Yank,^^ shouted 
Dobson, as almost neck and neck the lads 
topped a high stone wall, and began to over- 
haul the two scarlet figures in front. 

Bet your life,^^ yelled Roger, steadying his 
mount for the next take-off across a rushing 
brook. 

Behind them thundered the field. From the 
van came back the tongue of the hounds, hot 
upon the trail. 

He^s making for Treeback woods; itTl 
be a clinking, four-mile gallop,’^ advised Dobson, 
in short, jerky words. 

We’ll bring him down before then,” Roger 
cried. 

“Not much,” denied Dobson. “ A Welsh 


4 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


fox is good for more than that at this season — 
Look, he’s distancing them already! ” 

Master Reynard was certainly doing that. 
Already he had gained nearly a field, and the 
pack was commencing to string out, unable to 
sustain the furious pace. Three or four couples 
of old, seasoned hounds had drawn away from 
the main pack, however, and were holding 
their quarry. The two scarlet coats were only 
a field in rear of the pack now, and Roger and 
Dobson had raced almost to their flanks. A 
field would have covered the rest of the hunt, 
with the exception of two who had come crop- 
pers at the running water. One of the riderless 
horses went tearing past the boys; then pulled up 
short and turned around, as if feeling ashamed 
of himself. With a whirl, the field swept on 
and left him, and still the fox held his own, 
while the distant purple woods loomed nearer 
and nearer, promising him shelter and safety, 
or at least a breathing spell. 

In a deep ravine the field lost sight of their 
quarry a moment later, and then the pack was 
swallowed up in the valley. 

“Better dismount. Dob!” called Roger, as 
they raced up to the summit of the sweep. 

“ No, no,” Dobson shouted back, already 
starting down; “ give your mount his head, 
and he’ll take you down.” 


A DAY WITH THE DENBIGH HOUNDS 5 


It was a nasty descent, but there was no 
yellow streak in the young American, and he 
unhesitatingly followed his chum’s lead, per- 
mitting his horse to pick his own way down. 
He could see Dobson slipping and sliding on 
ahead through a sea of mud and an avalanche 
of rolling pebbles. A moment later the English 
boy reached the bottom, where he pulled up 
for a brief second; waved his hand, shouted 
back encouragingly, and then made off 
again. 

A moment or so later Roger, too, was safely 
down, and started away at top pace. Some 
others of the field had caught up with him 
by this time, and in company with a dozen 
good men and true, he galloped away. 

Master Reynard, however, had suddenly 
altered his tactics. Finding, evidently, that 
the hounds were getting too close to be 
pleasant, and despairing of reaching cover, 
he swerved to the left ; tracked through 
some boggy lowlands, then almost doubhng 
on his tracks, headed back for the cover from 
which he had been started. The hounds were 
at fault, and lost him for sixty precious 
seconds, then, picking up the scent again, 
hunted hard up the hill, over the uplands, 
and down into the valley once more. He 
had almost reached his old protection when 


6 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


he was headed off by a number of school 
children, who had walked out from town to 
witness the meet. 

He^s in a bad fix; they ^11 kill now! shouted 
Dobson, as Roger came galloping up. 

Hard pressed, indeed, was Master Reynard. 
With the hounds almost on him, and driven 
off from cover, his fife looked forfeited, but a 
bold move saved him. Doubling sharply, he 
ran in amongst the mob of riders right through 
the field, leaving the pack in confusion in his 
rear. In a hunt of lesser repute than the 
Denbigh, the hounds might have been under- 
ridden, but fortunately the field was composed 
of true sporting men, and, immediately re- 
straining their mounts, they waited for the 
pack to get clear again. 

Then a magnificent, unchecked run ensued 
across the breezy uplands. The two boys, light 
of weight and well mounted, managed to get 
away in the front rank of the field, immedi- 
ately behind the two huntsmen, and almost 
on top of the madly excited pack, which was 
holding the fox to a field^s lead. The pace was 
a terrific one. Reynard’s only chance of escape 
lay in making the cover, three miles away. 
Both pack and horses were tiring, and it re- 
solved itself into a matter of staying powers. 
Could the hunted outstay the hunters? The 


A DAY WITH THE DENBIGH HOUNDS 7 


lads were fast letting out their links and urging 
on their mounts. 

Then suddenly, almost at the same instant 
Roger and Dobson became aware that some 
huntsman from the racing field in the rear 
was fast gaining on them. He was coming 
like a whirlwind. The thud, thud of the horse's 
hoofs sounded almost on them. Instinctively 
they glanced behind, and almost with one voice 
their shout rang out : 

Look out! A runaway! " 

A runaway, indeed! A big, sixteen-hand, 
black hunter was tearing up to them with 
sickening speed. He had worked the bit out 
from his rider's control to between his teeth, 
and the foam was flaking his mouth. Leaning 
far back, pulling with frantic energy at the 
leathers, was a little, blue-gowned, girlish 
figure, her face set and white with terror. 
The great horse was up and tearing past the 
boys in an instant. 

Oh, stop him! Stop him! " shrieked the 
girl, almost wild with fear. 

From the field in the rear came a thunder of 
shouts and cries, and then a frantic: “ Help! 
Help! Stop him, please!" from the girl, 
as the maddened horse tore away. 

Next instant Roger and Dobson had called 
on their mounts for their last ounce. Working 


8 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


desperately with knees, hands and bodies, 
they raced after the runaway. 

There was urgent need for their every effort. 
The black hunter in front was heading straight 
for The Cloud,’’ a six-hundred foot eminence, 
with almost a sheer drop into the river valley 
beyond it. The horrifying situation burst 
upon the boys at the same instant, and again 
their voices rang out almost in unison: 

Look out; he’s headed for ^ The Cloud! ’ ” 

Then nothing was heard but the wild thud, 
thud,” of flying hoofs. 

Your English shire hunter is nothing if not 
game, and as if realizing the stakes, the two 
thoroughbreds responded magnificently to the 
calls made upon them. Almost neck and neck, 
almost knee to knee, the boys tore away, 
Roger humped up on his horse’s neck, working 
over him frantically; Dobson still clinging to 
the orthodox English seat, but none the less 
getting all there was out of his mount. The 
crops came down unmercifully across the flanks; 
the leathers were working like electric fans; 
the riders were wriggling like eels, and inch by 
inch, foot by foot, yard by yard, they caught 
up to the unmanageable horse ahead of them. 

Three hundred feet away loomed The 
Cloud.” 

The little, blue figure in front hung desper- 


A DAY WITH THE DENBIGH HOUNDS 9 

ately to the leathers, struggling in vain to re- 
cover control. Away on the right the two 
scarlet-coated huntsmen had seen the danger, 
and wheehng their mounts around, were now 
riding hard for the scene of danger. 

Their help would come too late! On the 
boys alone the result depended ! 

Six long lengths still separated them from the 
girl — now five — now three ! The yawning 
valley opened beneath them not a hundred 
feet away. They were up to the flanks of the 
runaway now. By common instinct they 
swerved a foot — one to the right, the other 
to the left. The chestnut faltered as Roger 
pulled him, but with savage energy the young 
American set him going again. Dobson charged 
from his side at the same instant Roger made 
his effort, and almost together they grasped 
the leathers of the runaway. With united 
strength they jerked. The strong teeth still 
retained the bit. They were almost on the 
brink now. Again they pulled with the 
strength of desperation. The dual attack was 
too much for the hunter. With a snort of 
fear, he relinquished his grip on the steel, and 
the next instant, with the valley dip not a 
dozen yards away, they had him under control, 
standing stock still, quivering with excitement 
and exhaustion. 


10 


HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Look out, she’s going to fall, Yank! ” 
yelled Dobson. 

His warning came not a moment too soon. 
The struggle over, the little lady gave a gasp, 
and rolled over into Roger’s arms, white-faced 
and fainting. 

Dobson was off his mount in a moment, 
and as he helped his chum to dismount the 
small, unconscious figure, he ejaculated with 
astonished expression : 

By Jove, Yank, it’s the twins! ” 

It’s one of them,” muttered Roger soberly, 
it’s Miss Irene.” 


CHAPTER II 


BACK TO HENLEY 

The boys placed the young lady on the 
ground, and by that time they were surrounded 
by a crowd of riders, all wishing to help. A 
dozen holster flasks were produced, and a tall, 
portly gentleman, who had just dashed up, 
raised the girl in his arms and emptied a spoon- 
ful of the spirits down her throat. 

'' I'm her father; I'm John Maxwell," he an- 
nounced, as if to prove his right to take charge. 

Oh, I'm all right, father," whispered the 
girl, opening her eyes, but, oh, oh, it was — 
was horrible." 

There, there, don't think of it, little girl; 
it's all right now — thanks, thanks to these 
two young men," and the father extended his 
free hand and grasped those of Roger and Dob- 
son, in turn. 

No, oh, no — not at all," muttered Dobson, 
red in the face and uncomfortable, as he always 
was under praise. 

Yes, oh, yes, and very much so," insisted 


12 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Mr. Maxwell. It was well, it was splendidly 
done. You timed your rush to a nicety. 

“ I think our rush was timed for us, sir; we 
got in as soon as we got up,^^ observed Roger, 
with a broad smile. 

Why — why, it^s the two boys again — 
the two ^ Snowdon ’ boys,^’ whispered the res- 
cued one, glancing up at Roger and Dobson, 
her pallid face breaking into a smile. You — 
you always seem to be appearing at the right 
moment. First — first you found us on Snow- 
don, and then you saved the hat, and now you’ve 
saved me.” 

I didn’t see you. Miss Irene, at the meet,” 
said Roger. 

No, we came late; father and I rode up 
only in time for the second breakaway, and 
then that hateful, dear old ^ Beauty ’ ran away 
with me. He’s a perfectly horrid horse, and 
I’ll never ride him again.” 

Indeed, you shall no^,” emphatically de- 
clared the father. 

Well, I’m quite all right now,” insisted 
the girl, so there’s not the slightest use of 
my lying on the ground any longer, and all 
you gentlemen looking at me.” 

As if to prove her statement, she began to 
arise, tottering a little and unsteady, but 
quite all right,” as she said. The runaway. 


BACK TO HENLEY 


13 


now thoroughly subdued and quiet, endeavored 
to muzzle against her. 

No, no, you horrid old thing; I don't like 
you; go away," she cried. 

Some of the visitors who had driven to the 
meet, placed their carriage at the disposal of 
the young lady, and instructing his groom to 
lead the horse, Mr. Maxwell and his daughter 
were driven away. 

You must come over and see us," called 
back the father. You are Sir Henry Dobson's 
son, aren't you, young man? " 

Yes, sir, and this is Roger Jackson — both 
Henley fellows." 

The carriage drove away, and the two chums 
remounted and jogged slowly toward Hatherly 
Court, Dobson's home. 

Wonder if they ran down? " questioned 
Roger, his thoughts reverting again to the chase. 

No, some one said he went to earth and 
escaped in a drain," replied Dobson, “ but that 
runaway business rather broke up the crowd, 
and not more than half the field was in at the 
escape." 

Well, this is the last holiday. Dob; it's 
back to Henley to-morrow." 

Aye, back again, old man, but for the last 
year. Next year it will be Sandhurst with me, 
and where with you, Yank? " 


14 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


India, old man, to help Dad for at least 
twelve months, and then, perhaps, I may get 
a chance at Oxford; I’d like it awfully, and I’ll 
only be twenty then, you know.” 

Roger Jackson, the American student at the 
great British public school of Henley, was 
about to start on his final year at that in- 
stitution, in company with his chum, Tom 
Dobson. He had been spending the Christ- 
mas and New Year’s holiday at the Dobsons’ 
country-seat, Hatherly Court, in North Wales, 
and on the last day before returning to school 
had attended a meet of the Denbigh hounds. 
The young lady to whom the boys had been of 
such service that morning was Miss Irene Max- 
well, sister of Jack Maxwell, a schoolmate of 
theirs. Irene and her sister Marjorie were 
twins, and the boys first met them some three 
years before, during an ascent of Mount Snow- 
don. At Miss Irene’s request, Roger had helped 
Jack Maxwell when he first came to Henley, 
and now the two boys were very friendly. 
Young Maxwell was in the fifth form of Henley, 
but Roger and Dobson were in the sixth and 
final class. 

During the ride home the conversation was 
mainly about the meet, and Miss Irene and 
the runaway, but after a late dinner at Hatherly 
Court, preparations commenced for the return 


BACK TO HENLEY 


15 


to Hamenchelt, the town on the outskirts of 
which Henley College was located. 

It was not, however, until the final good-byes 
were spoken and the train speeding south that 
the school began to be paramount in the mind 
of the boys. 

At Birmingham, five other Henley boys, on 
their way schoolward, joined them. 

''Hello, you beggars!’' greeted Andrew 
Cossock-Cossock, as he and Bradbury, two 
sixth form Henley boys, entered the compart- 
ment. 

" How do. Brad? How are you. Sock? ” 
was the rejoinder. " Hello, Tuck; how’s the 
kid? ” 

" Tuck ” and " the kid,” otherwise Tucker, 
primus and minor, two brothers, both an- 
nounced they were " fit,” and trusted the 
questioner was in like condition. He was, 
and on his part, hoped neither of the Tuckers 
would go in for so much " soft tack this half, 
as he had his eye on Tucker, primus, for num- 
ber three in the school shell. 

" Say, Yank,” demanded the senior Tucker, 
becoming very serious, I suppose we can 
push you through all right for school captain 
this half, can’t we? ” 

" I’m manager here,” grandly announced 
Dobson. Yank has nothing to say, as be- 


16 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


comes a modest and blushing aspirant for 
premier Henley honors. Well get together to- 
night as soon as the fellows show up. Dauncy 
will propose him, and, of course, the house will 
go solid, and I think well carry Grafton’s, too. 
I guess Yank’s safe for the chair this half.” 

“He is if you don’t try to make a speech. 
Dob,” conceded Cossock, “ but if you do he’s 
gone up in the air. Excuse my mentioning 
it, old man, but you’re better packing in the 
scrum than addressing a meeting. Better let 
Bradbury second the motion; he won’t make 
quite such a hash of it.” 

“ I believe. Sock, that you consider it your 
duty to go about telling people home truths, 
don’t you? ” suggested Dobson. 

“ Well, when they’re so beastly thick they 
can’t see it for themselves I sometimes do,” 
admitted the speaker. 

“Hold! Enough!” cried Bradbury dra- 
matically. “ Gentlemen, on the eve of battle 
do not spar amongst yourselves. We’re all 
— that is all the Murray fellows — agreed 
that it is time Murray’s House produced a 
skipper, and that Yank, here, is the man. 
Now we must hack it through for him. My 
worthy Yank, I trust you appreciate the honor 
about to be done you ; not only to you, but also 
to that much famed Star-Spangled-Banner 


BACK TO HENLEY 


17 


country of yours. If you do get in, it will be 
the first Yankee captain Henley ever elected. 
Without doubt your president will send con- 
gratulations to you.’^ 

Hum,’^ muttered Roger, diligently munch- 
ing a sponge cake. 

“ I beg your pardon, sir? inquired Brad- 
bury, with mock stiffness. 

Oh, don’t mention it, old man; you’re 
forgiven, but don’t let it happen again.” 

’ Amenchelt! ’Amenchelt!” shouted the 
guard, flinging open the carriage door. Hall 
hout for ’Enley College.” 

The boys tumbled out and mingled with the 
crowd. Everywhere the red and black colors 
of the school were in evidence. Big boys, 
with sprouting mustaches; small ones, with 
chubby red faces; and middle-sized ones, just 
donning their first pair of trousers, all hastening 
about demanding their boxes ” from nearly 
distracted porters, and hailing cabs from grin- 
ning cabbies. Without doubt Henley was re- 
turning, and making no small amount of noise 
about the arrival, either. 

There she is, you fellows! ” cried Tucker, 
as the classic pile of the old college came into 
view; half a mile of irregular, rambling build- 
ings, fronted and flanked by magnificent greens, 
and edged in by massive, iron railings. 


18 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Henley! Henley! Good old Henley!^’ 
shouted the crowd of seniors enthusiastically, 
and then, instinctively, they commenced to 
roll out the Henley Return Song, to the tune 
of Auld Lang Syne.” 

THE HENLEY RETURN SONG 

The Red and Black is flying from old Henley’s towers to-day ; 
Vacation is behind us, and it’s come, oh, come away — 

Aye, come, oh, come away, for old Henley calls to-day. 

So now, you fellows, hack it through and come, aye, come 
away. 

“ Old Glum ” is waiting for you, with his: “ Right about and 
face.” 

The Doctor’s in his chair, and the spotters in their place. 
You’d better answer smartly and all the rules embrace. 

Or Henley will not know you, and you may quit your place. 

The Red and Black our colors are, as every fellow knows; 
The crimson’s for shed Henley blood; the black our mourn- 
ing shows. 

For o’er the world from pole to line, from London to Bombay, 
The Henley boys have left their mark where duty bade them 
stay. 

Then look to it, you youngsters, that the flag you never dip. 
But follow in the footsteps of those who’ve left the ship. 

“ Faith and Courage ” is the motto chiseled over Henley’s 
. . door; 

We’ll stand by that and live to that at home or foreign shore. 

The refrain of the song came from a dozen 
different directions as little bands of the Henley 
boys bore down on the college; then, form- 
ing together and swinging into column, they 


BACK TO HENLEY 


19 


marched around the splendid green, until, 
halting before the principaTs residence, they 
sung the four stanzas with a vigor that brought 
Doctor Proctor outside on the veranda. 

He bowed in his stately, old-fashioned way, 
then holding out his hand for silence, said 
briefly : 

Ahem — boys, I am delighted to see you 
again; the — ahem — vanguard, so to speak, 
— ahem, — of the returning Henleyites — yes, 
delighted. I shall meet you all in the chapel 
to-morrow morning at prayers. I bid you wel- 
come, boys; most heartily I bid you all wel- 
come. 

There was mighty cheering, and then a 
general dispersing for the respective houses. 

Henley College was divided into four divi- 
sions, or houses: Murray’s, Fairbank’s, Dole’s 
and Grafton’s, a master of that name being 
at the head of each. Each house contained 
about two hundred and fifty boys. The seniors, 
those boys in the fifth and sixth forms, were 
provided with private dens,” where they 
slept and ate most of their meals, the smaller 
boys in the first, second and third forms “ fag- 
ging,” or waiting upon them, in return for which 
service the seniors assisted their fags in prepara- 
tion work, and acted generally as school 
fathers to them. 


20 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Roger Jackson, who had entered Henley 
three years ago as a '' sprat,'' or third form 
boy, had now gained the sixth and final form, 
with every chance of becoming captain " of 
the school. Dobson, his great chum, who had 
gone through Henley with him step by step 
from sprat " to whale " (sixth form boy) 
was now slated for the captaincy of Murray's 
house. 

Those who have read the two preceding 
volumes of this series: An American Boy at 
Henley^ and Jackson and his Henley Friends, 
are familiar with the inner working of Hen- 
ley College, but for the benefit of those who 
have not, this short explanation is given, in 
order that they may better be able to follow 
the fortunes of Henley's American Captain. 


CHAPTER III 


TEA WITH THE DOCTOR 

Two days later the school had got fairly 
into its stride, as Dobson described it. He and 
Roger were sitting in the latter^s den discussing 
the election of the day before, in which Roger 
had been elected captain of the school, when 
Brooks, the captain’s fag, an open-faced young- 
ster of the third form, came into the room. 

Here’s a note Proct sent around by old 
John,” he announced, throwing the envelope 
on the table. 

It was addressed : 

Roger Jackson, School Captain, 

Mr. Murray’s Division.” 

First official communication as captain, 
Yank,” observed Dobson. 

Roger tore open the envelope. 

My Dear Jackson,” it ran, “ I shall be 
pleased if you and the captain of your house 
will take tea with me this afternoon at 4.30. 


22 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


You will at that time meet here the captains 
of the other houses. 

Yours very truly, 

Henry J. Penn-Proctor.’’ 

“ Great fish-hooks! ” ejaculated Dobson, I’d 
rather take a licking than go, Yank.” 

Why, what’s the matter? I don’t see any- 
thing so very dreadful about it,” objected 
Roger. 

Tea, oh, tea with the doctor!” groaned 
poor Dobson, already in mental anguish. 

“ Don’t be such an ass. Dob. What is it? 
What does he do to you, anyway? ” 

Oh,” moaned his chum, but I do so hate 
those ^ functions,’ as the mater calls them.” 

I wouldn’t mind going,” mildly suggested 
young Brooks, who was still hanging about, 

no end of tuck, you know, jam, cake, eggs, 
and all sorts of stuff; wish I was invited.” 

Wish you could take my place,” lamented 
Dobson. 

Can’t you be ill or something? ” artfully 
suggested the small boy. 

Oh, what a lot of rot; of course. Dob’s 
got to go; bet he’ll enjoy it, too,” prophesied 
Roger. 

The average American will scarcely under- 
stand Dobson’s terror at the prospect of tea 


TEA WITH THE DOCTOR 


23 


with the doctor/’ for the American youth is 
far more self-possessed in the presence of his 
senior than is his small British cousin. Place 
an English lad with strange seniors or some of 
the fair sex in the open air, and he is perfectly 
at home, but let him meet them in the drawing- 
room, or be ushered into their presence in the 
dreaded tea room,” and he goes all to pieces. 
A mad terror takes possession of him, and he 
becomes absurdly bashful, awkward, and ridicu- 
lous. So now the prospect of tea that after- 
noon in the presence of the Head of Henley 
College filled poor Dobson with unreasonable 
terror. 

The few hours intervening before the ap- 
pointment he spent in making himself more 
miserable than ever in anticipation of the 
ordeal, and when at half-past four he found 
himself, in company with Roger and the three 
other house captains, finally caged ” in Doc- 
tor Proctor’s cosy room, he could not have in- 
telligently replied to the simplest question. 

The doctor, however, did his best to place 
all the boys at their ease. Mrs. Proctor was 
ensconced behind the tea urn, and the little 
company at once drew up to the table. 

The good old doctor was fairly bubbling 
over with good humor. 

Well, Jackson,” he said, I must congratu- 


24 


HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


late you upon your election, and the rest of 
you boys, too. I do so, I am sure, most heartily. 
It has always been my custom, you know, to 
have a chat with the new captain and his house 
lieutenants. I like to feel that I have my 
fingers upon the pulse of the school through the 
elected leaders. You, Jackson, have an unusual 
distinction, you must know. You are the first 
lad from the States to occupy the captain^s 
chair at Henley, and it is gratifying to find 
you supported by house captains so well fitted 
for their positions. Henley is most fortunate, 
most fortunate in her selection of captains this 
term.’^ 

Thank you, sir,’^ replied Roger, who was 
quite at his ease, and acting as spokesman 
for his colleagues, we all intend to do our 
best.^^ 

And you, Dobson, I am sure you must 
feel flattered by your selection as Mr. Murray^s 
house captain,’^ continued the doctor. 

Oh, no, sir; certainly; not at all, sir,^^ mum- 
bled Dobson, his face the color of red ink. 

' It is quite an honor, and so exceedingly 
nice for you that your old friend, Jackson, is 
the school captain, the doctor continued; 

you can work together well in double harness, 
so to speak, yes, double harness.” 

The other three house captains, Powell, 


TEA WITH THE DOCTOR 25 

Wallace and Guiting, all came in for a word 
from the doctor, and then Mrs. Proctor in- 
quired : 

'' Sugar, Mr. Jackson? 

If you please, mam.^’ 

And you, Mr. Dobson? 

'' Oh, no, not at all, mam,^^ disclaimed the 
Murray captain. 

“ And cream? persisted the lady, slipping 
two lumps of sugar into the cup. 

No, thank you,’^ replied Dobson, with 
great decision. The lad’s pet aversion was un- 
milked tea, but immediately he became the 
possessor of a dainty cup of undiluted Japan, 
from which he took a generous swallow, and 
then nearly choked over the scalding tea. 

The three other house captains were not much 
more at their ease, but gradually, under the 
skilful guidance of the doctor, the talk veered 
around to school matters, and other subjects 
on which the boys were keenly interested, 
and they began to forget their embarrass- 
ment. 

From all I hear, Jackson, Henley will 
send a crew for the Public School Challenge 
Vase on the Thames this spring,” suggested 
the doctor. 

Yes, sir, we have four eights on the river; 
all the houses are represented, and Mr. Murray 


26 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

thinks we shall be able to place a fast crew on 
the Thames.” 

I am sure I donT know what you boys 
would do without Mr. Murray,” observed 
Doctor Proctor. 

Neither do I, sir; he’s one of the finest 
coaches in England.” 

Yes,” Wallace agreed, gathering courage 
as the meal proceeded, “ and he’s a splendid 
sculler himself, you know, sir. He pulled clean 
away from all the single oars yesterday in a 
try-out.” 

Well, he pulled three years in succession 
in the Light Blue shell,” commented Dobson, 
also plucking up courage and joining in the 
general conversation, so he should be.” 

I trust you seniors will not forget amidst 
all this sport that this is your last year at the 
college; you are almost on the verge of serious 
life now, you know. You, Dobson, next year, 
divine Providence willing, will be at Sandhurst, 
and you, Powell and Guiting, on the Britannia. 
It is your intention, Wallace, is it not, to take 
your degree at Oxford? ” 

Yes, sir, father thinks it will be of help to 
me, even though I am going into the business 
with him.” 

Without doubt,” agreed the Henley Head, 
and I regret, Jackson, that you are not pass- 


TEA WITH THE DOCTOR 


27 


ing on to one of the universities; but your 
father has concluded you will gain more ground 
by going out to him at once in India.” 

“ Yes, sir, father has signed a contract for 
the building of another bridge higher up the 
Ganges, and Mr. Murray is coaching me 
along in the higher mathematics. He says it 
will not be too late for me to try for my degree 
after I return later.” 

Oh, dear, no,” the doctor said, men as 
old as myself enter there.” 

Will the school win in football against the 
county in March, Mr. Jackson? ” inquired 
Mrs. Proctor, seeking to make the boys enjoy 
themselves by reference to sport. 

“We intend to do our best, mam,” promised 
Roger, “ but the county fifteen are so awfully 
heavy that our men nearly always get pushed 
over in the scrums.” 

“You are captain of the fifteen this year, 
are you not? ” 

“No, mam, Bradbury is. He and Cossock 
are playing at half-back, and Dob — I mean 
Dobson — is in the pack; he^s a bully man 
there on account of his weight,” and Roger 
gave his chum a sly wink. 

Dobson blushed and mumbled: “Oh, no, 
not at all, mam.” 

“ Is Maxwell playing? ” asked the doctor. 


28 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Oh, yes, sir, he’s about the fastest quarter- 
back we have; he mates it up with Yank there.” 

Does what, Mr. Dobson? ” inquired Mrs. 
Proctor sweetly. 

He yanks it up with mate, mam — I mean 
he Jacks it up with Yank — I should say, he 
ups it up with mate — that is — ” 

Yes, I play on the quarter line with Max- 
well,” explained Roger, coming gallantly to 
the rescue of his badly confused chum. 

Just so, just so,” summarized the doctor. 

Maxwell’s a splendid sprinter, but he hasn’t 
the staying powers of Jackson,” Wallace 
said. 

“ The lower school is very full this half,” 
the doctor observed, changing the subject. 
They look like a promising lot of boys to me.” 

Yes, sir,” agreed Guiting, every senior 
has a fag this half.” 

I always think that is such a peculiar part 
of the English public schools; the fagging, I 
mean,” Mrs. Proctor said. 

' I thought so, too, mam,” agreed Roger, 
but it was a lot of help to me.” 

Oh, yes,” the doctor confirmed, the sys- 
tem has many advantages. It binds senior 
and junior together in one common interest, 
and it is quite a fair division of labor; the senior 
assists his fag in his preparation of lessons and 


TEA WITH THE DOCTOR 


29 


the fag keeps the senior comfortable in his rooms 
by keeping them in order and so forth; a very 
fair division, I’m sure. You have not that 
practice on the other side, I am informed, 
Jackson? ” 

No, sir.” 

“ By the way, speaking of the United States, 
you will soon have a compatriot of yours here.” 

Indeed, sir! ” ejaculated Roger, looking up 
with keen interest. 

“ Yes, a young fellow almost the same age 
as yourself. His father is a very wealthy 
man, extremely wealthy; and he has thought 
fit to place his boy with us for the last year 
before he goes on to the university. I hesitated 
considerably before I accepted his entry, be- 
cause it appeared to me it might be scarcely 
fair either to the lad or to Henley, considering 
the comparatively short time he would be 
here.” 

Is it — that is, will he be in the sixth, 
sir? ” inquired Roger. 

From all I can gather, I think he will, but 
I have not yet personally examined the boy. 
His father, however, has forwarded to me his 
record from the school he has been attending 
at Detroit, a town on the Great Lakes, I be- 
lieve.” 

“Yes, sir, Detroit is on the Great Lakes,” 


30 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


concurred Roger, smiling inwardly at the odd 
description. “ When will he arrive, sir? 
he added. 

I expect him here to-morrow, or the next 
day at the latest; he is at present visiting with 
his aunt, a lady who has married a Surrey 
squire.’^ 

And what did you say his name was, sir? ” 
still eagerly followed up Roger. 

I have not mentioned it, but, er — er — it 
is — er — Greenapple — Solomon Greenapple.’’ 

In spite of the solemnity of the doctor^s 
manner, the five lads present had great difficulty 
in concealing their amusement; only the pres- 
ence of the Head of Henley prevented them 
from laughing outright. Greenapple — Solomon 
Greenapple — it was such an odd name. 

You, Jackson, can no doubt assist him — er 
— make him feel at home, and, indeed, I wish 
all you boys to. That is mainly why I have 
mentioned the matter to you. In spite of his 
father’s great wealth and his own natural 
abilities, the boy has — er — has many diffi- 
culties to overcome, so I understand.” 

It was nearly ten o’clock when the visitors 
left the doctor’s room, for there were many 
school matters requiring mention and dis- 
cussion, but uppermost in Dobson’s mind, as 
they departed, was still the arrival of Solomon 


TEA WITH THE DOCTOR 81 

Greenapple, for the first words he said, as 
soon as they were away, were: 

Say, Yank, what a name: Solomon Green- 
apple! I^m dead anxious to see the beggar; 
wonder if he^s decent? 

I don^t see why he shouldn't be; what^s 
his name got to do with it, anyway? snapped 
Roger, almost testily. 

“ Oh, nothing, you old hothead, but it is 
a jolly rum name, isn’t it? Kind of a handicap 
to a fellow; it’s like being penalized ten yards 
in the quarter.” 

“ I don’t see that it’s anything of the sort,” 
denied Roger, still touchy at the ridicule cast 
upon his countryman’s name. Solomon’s a 
good enough name, and what’s the matter 
with Greenapple? ” 

Dobson gave his friend a rather blank look. 

Oh, nothing, of course, you old blockhead; 
don’t be so peevish,” he replied. 


CHAPTER IV 


SOLOMON GREENAPPLE 

Brooks, Roger^s fag, was on hand next 
morning just before six o’clock, and held the 
lines for his man,” as the captain pulled in 
his tub up to the Crab Tree and back. The 
weather was bitterly cold for river work; 
cold with that unpleasant greenness ” of 
the English winter — a greenness that goes 
to the very bones of one. Small cakes of ice 
floated past them, but little these things hin- 
dered with the practice. Weather never in- 
terferes with the English schoolboy’s pleasure. 
If it did, he would get a small amount of 
enjoyment. 

Roger, intent only on taking off the holiday 
accumulation of extra weight, spurted almost 
the entire distance, and his fag, wrapped up 
in a great sweater, cared not a jot for the 
weather. The youngster was an enthusiastic 
boating devotee, and the honor of being cap- 
tain’s fag and coxswain far outweighed any 
discomfort. With a small carriage timepiece 


^ SOLOMON GREENAPPLE 33 

before him, the lines tucked under his arms, 
and nothing visible but his rising-sun face. 
Brooks sat like a skipper in command of a 
ship, and gave his orders like the coxswain of 
a racing eight. 

Out sculls, sir! he cried shrilly, as he 
took his place in the stem. Push off; give 
way! 

Now,’^ instructed Roger; I want to hit 
it up strong for the first half-mile; then ease 
down, and then push it for all I^m worth to 
the Crab Tree; twig, kid? 

All serene,’^ gleefully shouted the fag. 

Steady, then! Are you ready? Go! 

Roger^s sculls went in with a will, and he 
buckled down to hard work, the youngster 
closely hugging the left bank, to avoid the 
biting east wind. 

Hit it up, sir,^’ he yelled, bridge in sight! 
Then, as they shot under the slender, steel 
span, Easy, now,^’ came his command. 

Roger, rather out of condition, and puffing 
somewhat, was glad of the breathing spell, 
but sixty seconds later his coxswain urged him 
on with: Now, sir, hit it up for the Crab 
Tree! 

Again Roger swung forward and did his best 
to get some pace out of his shell, and he was 
badly winded when at last his fag shouted: 


34 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ Easy, there; Crab Tree,^' and headed the 
boat for the bank. 

The Crab Tree was the last relic of an old 
apple orchard, and around the dead tree a 
shanty had been built. Inside this the boys 
discovered three other Henley seniors, all 
aspiring candidates for the school shell. They 
greeted the captain boisterously, and the 
little crowd huddled about the wood fire that 
had been hastily lighted, the seniors exchanging 
notes on their condition, and general river 
topics, the fags cornered together and talking 
noisily. 

They were in the midst of it all, when the 
door was briskly pushed open, and a stranger 
entered. 

He was a rather curious-looking object. 
An immense head, set on a short, bull-like neck, 
almost nestled between a pair of giant shoul- 
ders. From these the body tapered away to 
an absurdly thin waist, which in turn was 
supported by a spindling pair of legs. A 
little cap perched upon his head intensified its 
huge proportions, while a dark blue, tightly 
buttoned pea-jacket did not decrease the 
appearance of the great shoulders, and caused 
his slender underpinning to look yet more 
spindling. His face was red. So was his hair. 
His eyes, steely blue, and set wide apart, 


SOLOMON GREENAPPLE 35 

glanced keenly out from under shaggy brows. 
Taken altogether, he was a most singular-look- 
ing boy, and one who would attract attention 
anywhere. 

He stood gazing at the little crowd of boys 
before him; looking at them almost critically, 
as if making a mental calculation of who they 
were and whether he wished to know them or 
not. 

Shut the door, please,^’ gruffly commanded 
Wallace, one of the assembled oarsmen. 

Without a word, the stranger entered, and 
closed the rickety door behind him. 

The fags stopped their animated chatter, 
and began to take in the details of the new 
comer. For a full thirty seconds a strained 
silence reigned, then Wallace inquired coolly: 

Anything we can do for you? ’’ 

“ Lots,^^ drawled the boy with the red head. 

Again a silence ; then he inquired : 

“ How far from here is a place called 
Henley? 

^ A place called Henley,’ ” replied Wallace, 
still acting as spokesman, “ is one thousand, 
two hundred and seventy-three yards as the 
river runs, if you hug the right bank tight; 
but if you swing wide and go round the island, 
it’s fifty-seven feet more. Want to try to swim 
it? It’s a bally nice morning for a try-out.” 


36 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


The intruder eyed the speaker with un- 
friendly eyes. 

I said nothing about swimming it. Per- 
haps you^d like to try it yourself if iPs such ^ a 
bally ^ nice morning. Perhaps it may interest 
you to know I’m a new arrival at Henley, or 
I shall be when I get there; I’ve walked over 
from the town back there.” 

Can’t say it does interest me,” repudiated 
Wallace. 

Oh,” exclaimed Roger, “ I shouldn’t be 
surprised if you are the fellow Proct spoke of 
yesterday. Is your name Greenapple? ” 

The boy nodded. 

Yes,” he acknowledged, that’s my name; 
didn’t suppose any one here knew it, though.” 

Doctor Proctor spoke to me about you 
yesterday; I am a countryman of yours. Glad 
to meet you, Greenapple,” and Roger ex- 
tended his hand, frankly. 

The other took the proffered hand in one of 
his own great paws. How do you do? ” he 
inquired, in sulky fashion. 

My name’s Jackson,” the captain further 
introduced himself. 

All right,” was the almost-monosyllabled 
reply. 

Almost as all right a name as Greenapple, 
isn’t it? ” suggested Wallace, with a wink at 


SOLOMON GREENAPPLE 


37 


his companions. “ It may interest you, Mr. 
Greenapple, to know that the gentleman with 
whom you have just had the honor of shaking 
hands is the captain of Henley.’’ 

Mildly so,” drawled Greenapple, but 
now I have the information I wanted. I’ll be 
getting down to this Henley, I guess,” and 
swinging out of the door, he started off down- 
stream. 

Wait a minute,” Roger called after him, 
and I’ll scull you back. You can trot 
down. Brooks, and let Greenapple have the 
lines.” 

Much obUged, but it’s too cool for me on 
the river; guess I’ll walk.” 

The door slammed behind him. 

Well, what do you think of that? ” de- 
manded Wallace. 

Before any one could reply, Dobson, in 
short trunks and sweater, trotted in, and be- 
hind him his fag, young Clothier. 

Say, what in thunder is that f ” he ex- 
ploded, jerking an expressive thumb over his 
shoulder towards the outside. 

That,” explained the sarcastic Wallace, 
is Mr. Solomon Greenapple, an American who 
is about to honor Henley with his presence 
in rooms.” 

Oh,” grunted Dobson comprehensively. 


38 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


I might have guessed it. Yank, how do you 
like your new countryman? 

“We’d better hump ourselves and get back; 
it’s seven-fifteen. Stamp the fire out, Dob,” 
was the captain’s only answer. 

Once in the shell and pulling back to Henley, 
the small coxswain. Brooks, evinced a keen 
interest in regard to the new boy. 

“ Does he come from the states ? ” he began. 

“ Yes,” snapped Roger, between his strokes; 
“ don’t chatter now; keep your eye on the tur- 
nip and time me back to the bend.” 


CHAPTER V 

THE CHARIOT RACE 

That night Dobson, as usual, carried his 
preparation work to the captain^s den. It was 
his habit to work evenings in his chumps 
room. For a few minutes they chatted re- 
garding the advent of Solomon Greenapple, 
but work soon claimed their attention. Pres- 
ently, acting under instructions, young Brooks 
came in. 

Here I am,^’ he announced; want a ^ leg 
up ^ to-night? ’’ 

Sit down and donT chatter; you know I 
want you,^’ said Roger. Now, take that 
Bohn’s translation and read it slowly; Dob and 
I are going to get through a thousand lines of 
Plautus to-night, and you are going to read it 
from Bohn — fire away.” 

The youngster selected a comfortable place 
on the couch, and commenced his task. 

The clock struck eight, when, two hours 
later, he stopped and looking up, demanded: 


40 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

'' That^s enough, isn’t it? Swear I’m so hoarse 
I can’t read another line.” 

Yes, I guess that’ll do for to-night; thanks. 
Brooks, you read better this evening. Now cut; 
you’ve got an hour before dormitory.” 

'' Ta, ta,” called the fag from the doorway, 
glad to escape. 

He’s an all-right little beggar,” Dobson 
observed, after the small boy’s departure. 

'' Yes, he’s all right, but full of the old Harry. 
Now, Dob, let’s get at that trig, prob.” 

For another hour and a half the seniors strug- 
gled and wrestled with their preparation, for 
both boys were entered in the Oxford, senior,” 
a national examination held in the spring. 

“ Seems to me,” observed Dobson, suddenly 
ceasing work and listening, that there’s an 
awful row coming from the drill hall.” 

The captain stopped and listened, too. 

“ There is a row,” he admitted, but there 
shouldn’t be at this time.” 

It’s a nuisance they had to put our house 
sprats there to roost; you can never tell what 
kind of tommy-rot they’re up to, so far away; 
don’t see why they didn’t let them sleep with 
the rest of the juniors up-stairs in the regular 
dormitory,” complained Dobson. 

The school’s so full this half, there’s no 
room; that’s the reason, of course.” 


THE CHARIOT RACE 


41 


You old duffer, I loiow that, but I mean 
why didn't they turn out some other house 
sprats instead of ours; that's what — say, 
Yank, that is a fearful row they're making. 
Who's monitor there to-night? " 

Maxwell," the captain said, referring to a 
slip of cardboard — '' oh, I say, though, Dob, 
I remember he wanted to go to town to-night 
and asked me to appoint a sub, and by Jinks, 
I clean forgot to do it. That's why there's 
such a thundering row. Guess I'll have to go 
down and see what the trouble is; coming? " 
All serene; may as well." 

The two seniors started down the long hall- 
way and descended to the ground floor, then 
passed out across the quadrangle to the drill 
hall. The building was temporarily being used 
as the dormitory of the Murray house third 
form boys, on account of lack of room. 

As the captain and his chum approached 
the hall, it became certain that something un- 
usual was taking place there. The lights were 
ht, and a clumsy attempt had been made to 
conceal the fact by tacking newspapers against 
the shades, but telltale shafts of light shone 
through. The juniors could have saved them- 
selves the trouble, in any case, for the noise 
they were making was terrific, and only the 
great distance of the hall from the general 


42 


HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Henley buildings had saved them so far from 
detection. Judging from the shouts from 
within, however, they cared httle who heard. 
Come on, Dob,’’ urged the captain; 

they’re up to some new lot of rot. Ever 
hear such a noise? Have they all gone crazy? ” 
The beggars! ” muttered Dobson. There 
was a broad grin on his face. 

Another moment and the two were at the 
door. Dobson tried it gently. It was not 
locked, but some heavy article had been moved 
against it, and prevented an entry. 

Don’t move it,” counseled Roger. Let’s 
go round to the west side.” 

At a trot, the boys made for the other en- 
trance, and tried the door. There was no im- 
pediment here. The captain opened it care- 
fully, and followed by Dobson, entered. 

They might have saved themselves any 
precaution against being discovered. There 
was no danger of that. The hundred odd 
occupants of the room were far too much in- 
terested in the matter in hand to have any 
time to waste looking for intruders. 

A dense pall of dust lay over the whole scene, 
but not so great but that the two seniors could 
distinguish boys and things. And this is what 
met their gaze. 

In the center of the long hall were piled 


THE CHARIOT RACE 


43 


forty or fifty cots, the center of the pile rising 
four cots high. Then came a line of three 
cots, and below that two. The whole formed a 
sort of an improvised grandstand, which was 
now peopled by nearly a hundred yelhng, 
gesticulating boys, all in the last stages of a 
fearful excitement; some purple in the face; 
some black, but all yelling as if their lives 
depended on it. 

In the circular aisles formed between the 
walls of the room and the banked cots, were 
two other cots, and standing on each a fear- 
fully contorted youth; in front a team of eight, 
straining, galloping boys, harnessed to the 
strange, improvised chariot, which they were 
dragging around and around the room at a 
furious pace, while the drivers, with whips 
and reins, sought to increase their speed, urg- 
ing them on with voice and gesture. 

The cots, small, single iron affairs, on castors, 
made not the most desirable chariots in the 
world, but what they lacked in construction, 
the boys made up for by their enthusiasm. 

The captain and his chum might as well 
not have been there for all the notice any 
one took of them. No one saw them; no one 
cared. Unnoticed, they stood amazed specta- 
tors of the scene. 

Young Brooks, the captain^s fag, was steer- 


44 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

ing one cot, and Lamb, a Dole house boy, the 
other. The race was evidently on the last lap 
or so, for the excitement was getting past all 
bounds. 

Go on. Baalamb; good old Dole^s! YouVe 
got ’em! ” 

Oh, bored, sir! Bored, sir, well bored! ” 

“ A foul, a foul! ” 

Wasn’t! wasn’t! ” 

Oh, well steered, sir; well steered! ” 

“ Buck up, you chumps; get into his 
water ! ” 

Now, Murray, Murray — go it, Murray! ” 
A perfect babel of yells, shouts, admonition 
and advice drowned every other sound. 

Now the racers were approaching the end 
where stood the captain and his chum. The 
Murray house cot — I beg pardon — I should 
say chariot — was leading by a length. 

Round it, round it, you beggars! ” yelled 
young Brooks, in a frenzy of excitement, as 
he strove to handle his team skilfully round 
the turn. 

There was little enough room for rounding 
it,” but the doughty charioteer managed to 
prevent his team from colliding against the 
abrupt corner formed by the banked cots. 
Dole’s team, at a furious gallop, and the chariot 
skidding fearfully, followed scarcely a yard 


THE CHARIOT RACE 


45 


behind, hot on the trail of the leader. Around 
the next bend, and then down the straight, 
with a great determination to overhaul the 
leader, they charged. 

Dole^s! Dole’s! Dole’s getting ’em!’^ the 
yells went up. Two more laps! Come on! 
Come on! ” 

Hang to the rail. Brooks — hang to it, 
sir — Oh, oh, look out there — a foul ! A foul ! ” 

There came a jarring; a crash; yells inde- 
scribable, and then a wild melee of cots, rope 
and jumbled boys. 

In a great final effort to get past the leaders, 
Dole’s charioteer had cut it too fine, and crash- 
ing into the other cot, brought both teams over 
in the wildest confusion. The spectators 
leaped from their seats; the “ horses ” struggled 
to their feet, and the charioteers scrambled 
up and commenced to savagely upbraid each 
other. 

All right, you beggar, wait till I get you,’^ 
threatened young Brooks, endeavoring to dis- 
entangle himself from the debris, you fouled 
me!” 

I didn’t; you stood out and interfered; 
you did it on purpose,” retorted Lamb, climb- 
ing joyfully to the fight. 

At that critical moment the captain and 
Dobson made their presence known. 


46 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Hold hard, there! shouted Roger, push- 
ing his way down through the yelling mob, 
hold hard, I say! 

Cave! Cave! Ware! Ware!^^ ran the 
smothered warning, as like so many ants 
suddenly unearthed, the juniors sought to 
make for concealment. Their position, how- 
ever, was hopeless. There was nowhere to run 
to. Young Lamb and half a dozen others leaped 
upon the piled cots and there cast themselves 
down and commenced to snore loudly, but 
Brooks and the majority brazened the affair 
out. They stood waiting to see what the cap- 
tain would do. They had not long to wait. 

All form up,’^ came the command. Now 
then. Lamb and you kids up there, climb down.” 

Only a chorus of resounding snores greeted 
the order. 

Hook ^em down, Dob,” Roger shouted, 
and Dobson swarmed up and began to drag 
forth the feigners of slumber. 

‘‘ Hello, what’s the matter? ” demanded 
Lamb, rubbing his eyes, as if he were just 
awakening from a refreshing nap. 

“ YouTl soon see what’s the matter,” threat- 
ened the senior; out you get — tumble down, 
you beggars.” 

I’m asleep,” asserted another youth, as 
Dobson clutched him. 


THE CHARIOT RACE 


47 


You^re awake now” was the grim rejoinder, 
as Dobson seized him by the collar and dropped 
him on the floor. 

It was useless. All the juniors realized it, 
and commenced slowly to form in line, while 
the captain quietly took their names. 

Now, cots in places, and all of you come to 
me to-morrow after morning school,” he or- 
dered. 

Fifteen minutes later a great stillness reigned 
o^er the drill hall, and one hundred and four 
youthful minds were wondering what would 
be the price to pay for the frolic, on the morrow. 


CHAPTER VI 


A millionaire’s son 

Taken as a rule it was a rather difficult 
matter for any new boy even mildly to interest 
Henley, but in this respect, the arrival of^ 
Solomon Greenapple created a record. Not 
only was his arrival somewhat unorthodox 
(for what Henley boy was there who on his 
first arrival had not come to the school in a 
four-wheeler, even in these days of taxicabs); 
not only was his name grotesquely funny, but 
his appearance matched the latter fact. 
Then, too, it soon became blazed around 
that the new American boy was most fear- 
fully and wonderfully supplied with cash — 
supplied in an almost prodigious degree, for 
old John, the hall porter, had nearly dropped 
dead from sheer amazement, when, after help- 
ing the new arrival in with his trunks, the latter 
had carelessly dived down into his trouser 
pocket, and, producing a generous handful of 
glistening, loose gold coins, tossed over to the 
porter a sovereign. At the recital of this out- 


A MILLIONAIRE’S SON 


49 


raging of all precedent, Henley became aghast, 
for it had always, at all times, been form 
to tip the porter one shilling — never more, 
never less — and here was this new boy up- 
setting all precedent by tipping a sovereign, 
twenty times the proper amount. It was 
it was rottenly bad form; it was 
beastly Yankee,’^ as Wallace censured to his 
own particular crony, Nealy, as the two dis- 
cussed the Americanos advent that evening in 
their den. 

Wonder what Jackson will do about it? ” 
mused Nealy. He can^t stand for a chap 
like that, you know-^^ 

Oh, I think Jackson will not bother him- 
self about it; wonder what form the beast^s 
in? 0’ replied Wallace. 

Sixth,oo promptly announced Nealy. It’s 
settled; I hear he’s in Murray’s house, too. 
They say he’s a corker at study.” 

Well, I shall cut him,” curtly decided 
Wallace. I don’t like the beast; you should 
have seen his edge when he blundered into 
the Crab Tree the other morning; spoke as if 
we were a lot of ^ boots ’ at some hotel, and he 
a guest there.” 

Oh, well, confound him, what does it 
matter what he does or does not do; it won’t 
upset Henley much, I think,” consoled Nealy. 


50 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ The beggar has too much cash, too,^’ went 
on Wallace, unwilling to allow the subject 
dropped. “ Why, Bradbury won’t be in it 
with him, and Brad’s always been the flush 
chap here in my time.” 

Bet Bradbury’s governor can show as 
much cash as this fellow’s; he’s a millionaire 
in pounds, you know, and this chap’s dad is 
only that in dollars.” 

Well, Brad can’t show as much tin on him, 
anyway; his governor only allows him fifty 
quid a term, you know, and this chap’s got a 
hundred pounds or more in his pockets; old 
John saw him pull out the so vs and fivers.” 

Meanwhile Roger had another interview 
with Greenapple. The two met quite acci- 
dentally as the new boy was entering his newly 
appointed den. It was Roger, though, who 
first spoke. He felt it “ was up to him,” as he 
afterwards told Dobson. 

I’ll be glad, Greenapple, to give you a leg 
up here in any way I can. If you find I can 
be of assistance to you, let me know.” 

Thanks; much obliged, but I guess I can 
travel all right — oh, stay, though, there’s one 
thing I’d like to ask you about. What is 
this fag business? The old gentleman,” he 
waved his hand in the direction of Doctor 
Proctor’s study, told me I’d have little diffi- 


A MILLIONAIRE’S SON 


51 


culty in getting a fag, as the lower school was 
so full this term. What did he mean? ’’ 

Why,'' Roger explained, smiling broadly, 
at most of the English schools the small kids 
fag for the seniors — that is, you know — " 
Why do you say ' you know ’ when I 
don't? Every fellow does that, and it's a lot 
of kid." 

If you'll listen without interrupting me. 
I'll tell you," retorted Roger curtly. “ That 
^ you know ' is an idiosyncrasy; you'll find a 
lot of them over here, and you'll have to adapt 
yourself to them; you can't shape the school, 
you know — " 

“ There you are again: ^ you know,' when I 
don't, but go ahead." 

“ I've a good mind not to," retorted Roger, 
“ but I suppose I'll have to overlook your 
greenness. Know, then, my criticising friend, 
that the juniors keep the dens of the seniors 
clean, get their meals for them when they eat 
in rooms, and generally make themselves 
useful. For instance, that small boy with 
whom you saw me the day you came up to 
the Crab Tree, was my fag, and he got out of 
his bed at six o'clock in the morning and steered 
my tub up river because I asked him to." 

How much do you pay him? " demanded 
Greenapple. 


52 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 
Roger laughed. 

Nothing, of course,’^ he replied, but in 
return for what he does for me, I help him with 
his preparations and look after him a lot — 
kind of father him along, you see. It^s quite a 
responsibility.’^ 

You don’t pay him anything; then he’s 
not your servant? ” 

Of course not. He’s just the same in the 
school as I am, only a junior. Why, Brooks’ 
governor is British ambassador to Turkey. I 
fagged when I came here first as a sprat.” 

A what? ” 

A sprat — great Scott, you have a lot to 
learn here. I’ll tell you. The first form kids 
are called shrimps, the second minnows, the 
third sprats, the fourth mackerels, the fifth 
salmons, and the sixth whales. You’re a whale. ’ ’ 

Quite a fishy lot,” commented Greenapple. 
Who’s my Jonah? ” 

' You may discover him soon,” responded the 
captain. 

Look here,” demanded the new boy, 
here’s another thing I want to ask you about. 
'' Can’t I go to town when I like after school 
hours? Some old fool in uniform undertook 
to stop me this morning as I was going out; 
told me I must show a captain’s pass or some 
such thing.” 


A MILLIONAIRE’S SON 


53 


That’s so,” Roger admitted. “ All the 
fellows — seniors and juniors — must get passes 
before they go to town, that is, if they want 
to go out of bounds. Leave the pass at my 
den for signature, and get Murray to counter- 
sign it.” 

Piffle! ” ejaculated Greenapple contemptu- 
ously. Look here, Jackson, my car’s up at 
some hotel rejoicing in the name of The Bully 
and I want to make arrangements for keeping 
it at some garage; do you know of a good place 
near the school? I have a couple, but I ran 
down from town in my Derby 60, and I want 
to get a place to keep it somewhere; my road- 
ster’s coming down by rail, later on.” 

Say, you are well provided for, aren’t 
you? ” commented the captain. “ Bring your 
pass any time to my room, and get one for your 
fag, too; he’ll probably know town better than 
you, and together you can look out a place.” 

How — how do you get this — this fag ?” 

There are eight or ten unengaged fellows 
in Murray’s, so you can take your pick. I’d 
recommend young Hanks; he’s smart and 
knows the ropes; it’s his third year here; he’s 
worked up from a shrimp.” 

'' I’ll take him sight unseen, at your say so; 
get him for me,” ordered Greenapple. 

“ Oh, get him yourself,” suggested Roger, 


54 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

with a smile. I’m not hunting up fags for 
fellows.” 

How do I get him, lasso him? ” 

Here, I suppose I’ll have to show you.” 

The captain put a whistle to his lips and 
blew a series of sharp blasts. 

Say, Brooks,” he directed, as soon as his 
fag appeared, see if you can find Hanks, and 
tell him to go to Greenapple’s den — 46 — B.” 

All right,” agreed Brooks, but he’s 
down river now; when he gets back’ll do, 
won’t it? ” 

Yes; and say. Brooks, Greenapple here 
wants him to fag for him; tell him so, will you? ” 

So the matter of fagging for the new American 
was settled, and he found himself in possession 
of a third form boy to look after his wants. 

Now,” Roger told him, “ this arrangement 
is not one-sided, you know; you must help 
him along with his lessons, and see him 
through any scrapes he gets into, you under- 
stand.” 

Later that evening Greenapple informed 
Roger he had made arrangements for housing 
his car, and casually invited the captain to 
go for a spin with him next day. 


CHAPTER VII 


THE GALE 

Roger, always a sound sleeper, was awakened 
that night by his fag. 

Oh, Jackson, the youngster cried from 
outside the doorway, “ get up; it’s blowing a 
bally gale — no end of a storm — just listen 
to it! ” 

Come in! ” called the captain, and he was 
aware he had to shout to make his voice heard 
above the din of roaring wind and pouring rain. 

Next moment young Brooks entered. He 
had evidently dressed in haste. 

It woke us all up in the drill hall,” he 
explained, in shrill tones, “ so I donned my togs 
and routed you up; thought you might like 
to see it. Look, it’s lightning — lightning in 
winter! By jinks, wasn’t that a clap? Say, 
just listen to that rain!” 

Roger propped himself up on his elbows. 
He could do little else but listen. The din 
was compelling, insistent. 

No,” he admitted, '' it is unusual; are all 
you kids up? ” 


56 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Yes, we're all up, and so are lots of the 
other fellows in the other houses; I saw the 
lights in their windows as I bolted across the 
quadrangle; by jinks, listen to that! " 

A fearful crash of Heaven's artillery, fol- 
lowed by a tearing, rending sound, brought 
Roger, with a leap, from his cot. 

That struck somewhere close! " he ejacu- 
lated. 

The fag, already at the window, and peering 
out, wheeled around with an almost tragic 
gesture. 

“ Oh, Jackson," he yelled, it struck the 
flagstaff; look, it's down!" 

He started to raise the window-sash, but an 
inrush of wind caused him to bang it down 
again. 

It's the flagstaff! The flagstaff," he re- 
peated dazedly. 

The captain was at the window by this time. 
Outside all was dark again, but another blind- 
ing flash of lightning clearly showed up the 
ruin. In the middle of the quadrangle, on 
which fronted the four Henley houses, had 
stood the flagstaff, a great mast rising some 
hundred and sixty feet in the air. Now only a 
scene of ruin met the eyes of the American. 
The big pole had been rent almost from sum- 
mit to base, and lay a tangled mass of 


THE GALE 


67 


splintered poles and sagging cables. It had 
struck the projecting cornice of Grafton's 
house as it toppled over. 

Only a brief moment had Roger in which to 
comprehend the catastrophe. The illumination 
was followed by an inky blackness and another 
ear-splitting crash of thunder; then again a 
dazzling flood of fearful illumination, and again 
that almost instantaneous crash. Through- 
out all, the wind roared and bellowed with 
fearful sound. 

We'd better get out," shouted Roger, as 
he lit the gas. He was hastily tumbling into 
his river sweater and trousers, as he spoke. 

Come along, kid; they'll probably need us 
in the quadrangle," he finished. 

The two boys dashed from the room. They 
met others in the long corridor, all appar- 
ently seized with the same idea of getting 
out." 

Rapid as they were, however, they found 
two of the house masters before them. Mr. 
Murray and Mr. Grafton were already on the 
scene, together with some of the helpers. It 
was still raining in torrents, and the electrical 
display continued with unabated violence. 

Are any of your boys hurt? " shouted the 
Rev. Milton Murray to his colleague. 

No, it only struck the sergeant's room at 


58 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


the top, as it fell, and luckily no one was there, 
assured Mr. Grafton. 

They were joined at that moment by Doctor 
Proctor. The old Henley chief was bareheaded, 
wrapped about in a long ulster. He was 
quickly in consultation with his divisional 
masters. 

We can do nothing now,^^ he conceded. 

We must wait until the storm subsides. 
Go back to your rooms, boys. It is most 
fortunate — most fortunate that no one was 
injured. 

No one wished to linger long, for the situa- 
tion was decidedly unpleasant, and in a few 
minutes the quadrangle was again deserted. 

As soon as it was light, however, little crowds 
of boys commenced to congregate — little 
crowds that soon became large ones, and long 
before eight o’clock nearly all Henley had viewed 
the disaster. 

Well, if that isn’t a go! ” ejaculated Dob- 
son, as he stood by Roger’s side amidst the 
tangled ruin of splintered poles and slacked 
cables and wires. 

It’s too beastly rotten,” groaned Brad- 
bury, joining the two. Only put up year be- 
fore last.” 

Bally bad luck,” agreed Cossock, strolling up. 

What a fuss you chaps are making over 


THE GALE 59 

the darned pole/’ drawled a voice close at 
.Cossock’s elbow. 

All the assembled boys wheeled about, and 
discovered the newly arrived American stand- 
ing, with hands thrust deep into pockets, 
gazing with an almost amused smile on his 
features at the wreck. He was wearing the 
same little, short pea-jacket in which he first 
arrived at Henley. His lion’s head and tan- 
gled shock of red hair were unprotected by any 
hat, and his spindling legs were encased in 
tight-fitting riding-breeches. 

The boys viewed with disfavor his appear- 
ance, and Dauncy, the school’s crack debater 
and wit, observed in those mild tones of his 
which so often had lashed his opponents in 
debate into fury: 

You see, Mr. — Mr. — er — Applegreen — ” 

Greenapple,” snarled the newcomer. 

I beg pardon, Mr. Greenapple. I was about 
to observe that an occurrence of this nature 
does not often happen at Henley; in fact, 
strange to say, it has never happened before, 
and we must ask your indulgence, if we express 
surprise.” 

Why, the thing cost a hundred and forty 
pounds, and we all chipped in and had it put 
up ourselves,” exploded Dobson, glaring at 
Greenapple. 


60 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ Shucks! ” contemptuously retorted the new 
boy. What^s a hundred and forty pounds! ” 

In the neighborhood of seven hundred 
of your dollars, I believe, Mr. Crabapple,^^ 
informed Dauncy, with great seriousness. 

Well, I know that, I guess, you smarty, 
and I wish you^d get my name straight,’^ 
snapped Greenapple. 

I apologize for juggling with your most 
distinguished name, and if you knew how much 
one hundred and forty pounds was, why did 
you inquire? ” still persisted the unruffled 
Dauncy. 

“ I meant to say it wasn^t much.^^ 

Ah, that is entirely different; your remark 
did not lead me to understand it in that way, 
and you will pardon me, I am sure, Mr. — Mr. 
— er Redapple — I beg pardon, Greenapple, 
when I remark that all our Henley fellows 
are not so abundantly supplied with cash, 
that the loss of one hundred and forty pounds 
does not cause them some annoyance.” 

Look here,” shouted Greenapple, nettled 
by the lash of Dauncy^s sarcastic tongue. 

Look where? ” sweetly inquired the Henley 
debater. 

Oh, look anywhere. Look at the idiots 
all around you gaping as if they’d lost their 
only friend. Why, I tell you what I’ll do; 


THE GALE 


61 


I’ll give you a new flagstaff — give it to you 
with pleasure, if only to get rid of your long 
faces.” 

From the crowd, augmented as it had been 
during the discussion by a constant arrival of 
new boys, arose a long-drawn-out whistle. 
It was common knowledge that the American 
could do what he said if he chose to. 

“ Is that offer made in good faith? ” de- 
manded Dauncy. 

Sure,” snapped Greenapple. 

“ Because if it is, I will lay the proposal 
before the captains this afternoon at their 
meeting.” 

Yes, tell the captains, or the generals or 
the admirals or any one else; I’ll stand by it,” 
vehemently asserted the new boy. 

Thanks,” said Dauncy. It is extremely 
probable, Mr. Greenapple, that your very 
generous offer may be accepted.” 

Shouldn’t be a bit surprised,” muttered 
Dobson, with a grin. 


CHAPTER VIII 


GREENAPPLE KEEPS HIS WORD 

The prognostication of Dauncy and Dobson 
was verified. Greenapple’s offer to replace the 
demolished flagstaff was accepted by the 
captains of Henley at their meeting that same 
afternoon. Not before, however, Roger had 
urged upon the volunteer donor to with- 
draw it. 

Look here, Greenapple,^^ the captain ex- 
postulated, as he talked with his countryman 
after morning school. Look here, there is 
really no necessity for your doing this thing, 
you know.’’ 

Oh, rats! shut up,” was the forcible com- 
ment. 

Because,” persisted Roger, we all know 
you made the offer upon the spur of the mo- 
ment, and none of the fellows will think any 
the less of you if you withdraw it now. It’s 
going to cost you a thundering lot — about a 
hundred and fifty pounds, you know.” 

I know it will cost only a hundred and 


GREENAPPLE KEEPS HIS WORD 63 

twenty-one pounds, nineteen shillings and 
sixpence, because IVe been over the figures,'' 
was the tart rejoinder. 

Great Scott, you've got it down pat. Well, 
if you're bound to do it, go ahead, but I'm 
showing a way you can get out of it if you 
want to." 

'' I don't," snapped Greenapple. Why, 
look here, Jackson, I'm not the chap to make 
a blow, but — well — I'm well fixed. Here, 
come into my den." 

He led the way inside number 46 — B, 
Roger following. The captain fairly gasped as 
he beheld the interior. In the few days the 
new boy had been there he had effected a 
transformation in the den. Magnificent ma- 
hogany furniture, a costly Turkish carpet and 
some tasteful draperies made the place look 
more like the anteroom of a palace than a den 
at Henley. 

I couldn't stand for that uncomfortable 
thing of a cot," explained the tenant, as he 
waved his hand towards a luxuriant swinging 
bed-hammock, “so I got this thing from a 
merchant back in the httle town. It is quite 
comfortable, and I can go to sleep now, which 
I couldn't do before." 

“ Well, you have got things fixed up," ad- 
mitted the captain, gazing from one of the 


64 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


rich furnishings to another. Have any of 
the fellows seen it? 

“ Yes, the chap next door came in,^^ care- 
lessly commented Greenapple, '' but I brought 
you in to show you I was able to put the fel- 
lows up a new pole without bankrupting myself. 
See here! 

He opened the plate-glass door of a small 
secretary, and unlocking a drawer, took out 
a bank pass-book, which he carelessly tossed 
over to Roger. The balance there will make 
your mind easy,’^ he added. 

Do you want me to look in it? ’’ asked the 
captain. 

Sure, that’s what I gave it you for,” 
snapped Greenapple. See here,” and he 
indicated with his finger four figures: £1560 
s9 d4. Just had it balanced up at the bank 
yesterday, when I deposited the draft on my 
London agents for the thousand pounds. 
“ So, you see,” he nodded complacently. 

“ Very well,” acquiesced the captain coolly. 
“You appear to be well supplied, as you say, 
but if I were you, Greenapple, I wouldn’t 
go showing this book to the fellows. They’ll 
only think you’re bragging, and it’s bad 
form, you know.” 

“ I don’t know anything of the sort. You 
and your ' form ’ make me very weary. Fact 


GREENAPPLE KEEPS HIS WORD 65 

is, Jackson, you chaps here are a lot of poverty- 
stricken kids, and you cover it all up, or try to, 
with this ' form.' Everything is ' bad form ' 
or ‘ good form.' Why, I was out only last night 
walking around the field there," he waved his 
hand in the direction of the playing field, 
known as The Big," when along came a 
whole gang of eight or ten of the largest chaps, 
all arm in arm like a lot of sissies, monopoli- 
zing the whole cinderpath, bless you, and making 
no effort to let me pass. I went right ahead, 
and butted into them, and you should have 
seen the racket they made." 

Did — did you get through? " demanded 
the captain, aware that the speaker had trans- 
gressed one of the sacred, time-honored rules 
of Henley's boys. 

Bet your sweet life I did!" vehemently 
declared Greenapple. They tried to stop 
me, but I gave it to them right and left, and 
left 'em behind me snarling something about 
this ^ bad form ' business. My, they were mad 
all through, though." 

The captain sighed. He realized the entirely 
different view-point from which this self-assert- 
ive son of a self-made father looked at things, 
and that in which Henley looked at them. The 
angle was a very different one. The case 
appeared to him to be hopeless. There was 


66 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

going to be a tremendous struggle here. Green- 
apple was endeavoring to swallow Henley, 
Henley was trying to assimilate Greenapple, 
and the odds looked big in favor of Henley. 

Well,’^ he summed up, youTl find all 
sorts of fellows here; some rich, some poor; 
some decent fellows, some cads. But you are 
determined to put that staff up again, are you? ’’ 

Yes,’^ emphatically declared Greenapple, 
and his great jaws closed like a steel trap. He 
had a most uncomfortable air of purpose when 
he tried. 

The new flagstaff was erected with almost 
amazing speed. The house captains placed the 
proposal before Doctor Proctor for his consent, 
half expecting he would veto the scheme, but 
he readily acquiesced. So Greenapple was 
officially notified that his offer was accepted; 
and that same evening, to the amazement of 
the school, a gang of men were at work clearing 
away the debris of the old staff. Greenapple 
took a lively and most energetic interest in 
the work. Every day all his spare hours he 
spent with the workers. He had prepared the 
plans himself, and purchased his own lumber, 
steel and cables, displaying in all an astonish- 
ing knowledge and keen business instinct. In 
overalls (and Henley gasped at this), with 
sleeves rolled up to shoulders, displaying his 


GREENAPPLE KEEPS HIS WORD 


67 


huge biceps, he worked like a Trojan along 
with the mechanics, and many a lively scene 
was witnessed by the congregated Henley 
boys. 

'' See here, what 're you loafing there, scratch- 
ing your head for? " the American would sud- 
denly demand of some idling workman. 

'' Well, Hi'm blowed! Can't a chap stop to 
scratch 'is 'ead? " inquired the astonished 
laborer. 

'' No, not when he's working for me; get 
a move on you, or you'll be fired." 

Fired, fired? " echoed the man, at a loss 
to understand the exact meaning of the word, 
yet scenting that it boded no good for him. 

'' Yes, fired, I said," bellowed Greenapple. 

Bounced; kicked out." 

Oh," comprehended the man, suddenly 
waking into life, and getting to work. 

To show that his threat was no idle one, and 
to exemplify exactly what the word did mean, 
Greenapple fired " no less than three laborers 
the first day. A skilled mechanic, who under- 
took to argue with him, followed the next 
morning, and after that things worked harmoni- 
ously. 

I know what I want; I know how it should 
be done, and I'm going to have it that way," 
emphatically declared the American. I'm 


68 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


paying you chaps a shilling a day more than 
you usually get, and I^m boss, so get that in 
your heads.’ ^ 

The declaration sank deep into the heads of 
the workmen, and by the following Saturday 
week the work was. all completed. 

Well,” commented Dobson to Roger, as 
he and the captain talked over the rapidity 
of the erection, “ I must say he had it put 
up smartly enough. I never imagined the 
work could be done in such short time; but 
say, Yank, it was a real treat to see this Green- 
apple and the workmen getting together the 
first day.” 

I know; I saw it,” laughed Roger. 

Aye, but you didn’t see the fun at eleven 
o’clock the first morning. You know, the whole 
gang laid off as the school clock struck eleven. 
I happened to come along just then going to 
lectures, and Greenapple, you know, had got 
off to superintend the job. Well, you should 
have seen the look on his face when the chaps 
stopped and made for their beer cans and bread 
and cheese. ^ What’re you all about? ’ he 
roared. ‘ ’Leven ’clock; beer time,’ growled one 
of them. ^ Beer time nothing,’ shouted Green- 
apple, ' you’ll work till twelve, and lay off an 
hour then.’ ^ No, we don’t; we lays off fur 
a quarter o’ an hour at ’leven and then works 


GREENAPPLE KEEPS HIS WORD 69 

till one, an’ comes on ’gain at two,’ argued the 
man. ^ You’ll work as I say till twelve; lay off 
one hour, and then work till six, or get bounced 
right now,’ snarled Greenapple, with that odd 
twang of his. ^ Bounced,’ the chap repeated, 
standing with his mouth agape. ‘ Wot’d yer 
think I be, mister, a hinderrubber ball? ’ 
^ You’ll be bounced as high as one,’ yelled 
Greenapple; and, do you know, that chap 
dropped his beer can and went back to work. 
All of them growled a lot, but Green had his 
way. I tell you, Yank, he’s a jolly rum chap.” 

And that was the general school verdict on 
Solomon Greenapple. He was voted a jolly 
rum chap.” 


CHAPTER IX 


A RECORD RUN 

Henley did not permit the excitement inci- 
dental to the disaster and the erection of the 
new flagstaff to interfere with the regular 
routine of preparation for the forthcoming 
clash between the school fifteen and the 
county men, nor were the college and scratch 
crews any the less indefatigable in their efforts 
to place a winning eight on the Thames in 
March for the Public School Challenge Vase. 

Roger, keen for the best wood with which 
to build his crew, had eyed the massive shoul- 
ders and giant arms of his countryman with 
a view to giving him a try-out some morning 
on the river, but Greenapple did not encourage 
his advances. 

Can’t waste the time,” he snapped, when 
the captain suggested his pulling up the river 
with him in a pair-oar shell. I’m here to 
study more than play. I shall enter Oxford 
next January. I intend to pass the Oxford 
Senior this summer.” 


A RECORD RUN 


71 


He spoke with that certainty that so often 
.made hmi objectionable to the Henley boys, 
and Roger suggested, mildly: 

'' No chance of you falhng down, is there? '' 
Not the slightest, confidently affirmed 
Greenapple. 

Well, there^s nothing like being sure of a 
thing; it^s more than some of us fellows are; 
but if I were you, Greenapple, I would not 
get the reputation of being a spreader/’ 

What’s a spreader? ” 

Oh, a boaster, you know.” 

I didn’t know, but let me tell you, my young 
friend, that your true American is the only 
boaster who makes good! I’m going to make 
good; just watch me.” 

Well, if you feel you can spare the time 
soon. I’ll take you for a try-out up river,” 
still persisted the captain. 

'' All right; if I find that. I’ll let you know. 
So long; I’m reading Sophocles.” 

That same afternoon Mr. Murray gave the 
school fifteen their final practice against a 
scratch town team. Bradbury was captaining 
the hopes of the school. He and Cossock, 
a rather slow-moving, but typically dogged 
Britisher, were mating it up at half-back. The 
speedy Roger and the school short-distance man. 
Maxwell, were at three-quarters. Dobson, 


72 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


chunky and strong, was leading forward, where 
his weight would tell in the scrums. Wallace, 
the unrivaled Henley back, was goal keeper. 
Taken altogether, the Henley fifteen was one 
of the best the school had put on the gridiron 
for some years, and great hopes were raised 
that they would at least be able to score 
against the heavy men of the shire. Only 
once, on a never-to-be-forgotten year, had the 
school won in this great annual fixture, and 
generally the whistle blew without the red and 
black jerseys of the school being seen behind 
the county posts. 

The English Rugby game is played along 
very similar lines to the American game. 
Four more men are played on a side — fifteen 
instead of eleven. The game is generally re- 
plete with brilliant runs and daring tackling, 
but is not, perhaps, so scientific as ours. It 
is, from a spectator’s point of view, at least, 
'more thrilling, but is considerably less danger- 
ous, although accidents do occur. 

A dull February day met the spectators, as 
they crowded around the ropes. A strong 
breeze was blowing down field from the chapel 
end, and the county captain, upon winning 
the toss, very properly decided to play his men 
with the wind behind them for the first half 
of thirty minutes. 


A RECORD RUN 


73 


It was two-thirty to the second when the 
school team, as challengers, trotted out on the 
splendid green. Their heavier opponents fol- 
lowed a moment later, and were given a rousing 
reception by the Henley boys. The grandstand, 
at the gymnasium side, where Doctor Proctor 
sat chatting with His Worship, the Mayor of 
Hamenchelt, was crowded by spectators from 
the town and Cotswold country, and all around 
the ropes, three or four deep, were clustered the 
college boys and many of their visiting friends. 

A few parting words of last instruction from 
Mr. Murray, and the teams took up their 
positions. The county captain, a tall, old 
Blue, ran back a few paces, and sent the oval 
soaring high with the wind into the school 
territory. The Henley forwards were on it 
in a second, and in a series of short runs took 
it to the half line. Tight work followed, scrum 
succeeding scrum, and despite their excellent 
team work, the school pack was carried back- 
ward, always backward. Beef will tell, but 
the Henley team was working like a machine, 
with scarcely a mistake. 

Open play,’^ had been Wallace's instruc- 
tions, and Mr. Murray^s incessant advice. 

Get hold of the ball in the packing and pass 
to the men behind the line; then follow them like 
their shadows.’^ Faithfully, manfully did the 


74 


HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


forwards obey their instructions, but always 
in the scrum they lost ground, and too often 
the ball came out the wrong side. 

In seventeen minutes of fast and furious 
playing the county men pushed their oppo- 
nents over, and at last planted the ball behind 
the posts. The kick over, with the wind true 
behind them, was an easy achievement. Once 
again before half time did the men of the green- 
shire get behind the Henley citadel, and an- 
other goal resulted. 

Score, half time: County, 16 points. School, 
nil. 

Refreshed, and playing with more confidence, 
now the wind was in their favor, the school 
team put up a dashing game after the inter- 
mission. Once, when their goal was in immi- 
nent danger, Wallace saved in magnificent 
style, stamping himself as a peer amongst 
backs. Then from a line out on their own 
twenty-five, Dobson, in his dogged, bull- 
headed fashion, fairly hacked the oval up field 
for a gain of twenty yards. From there, on a 
pass, Bradbury took the leather along in a 
great dribble, toeing the oval with consummate 
skill. He lost it just over the half line, and a 
county quarter, getting hold, went down Hen- 
leyivard for a substantial gain; then Cossock 
collared and brought down, and from the sue- 


A RECORD RUN 


' 75 

ceeding scrum Roger got hold of the ball, and 
doubled through the enemy’s forwards, only 
to be forced into touch on the county twenty- 
five line. 

The school went mad at the brilliant work of 
their team. 

“ Played, sir! Played, sir! Well hacked, 
Henley!” came the encouraging shouts from 
all around the ropes. 

Mr. Murray was nodding approvingly, and 
old Doctor Proctor’s hands were working glee- 
fully in invisible soap. 

The county goal was in danger! 

But a blight came to nip the school hopes. 
A magnificent run for nearly half distance, by 
the county back, relieved their goal, and again 
the Henleyites were fighting desperately on 
their own ground. 

Then came that run that will go down in 
Henley’s history. That record-breaking run 
of her American student, Roger Jackson! 

From a tightly packed scrum, the school 
forwards, working like dogs, pushed the county 
men over, and for once the ball came out 
Henley’s side. 

In a twinkle a quarter-back had it. Tackled, 
he passed to the waiting Bradbury, who, get- 
ting a good start, was only brought to turf 
after a gain of fifteen yards. But even as he 


76 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


was tackled, a cry of: Here, sir! '' sounded 
at his elbow, and Roger had the ball. 

Like a flash the county forwards swarmed 
on the wiry American. He wriggled out from 
a dangerously tight place; ran nearly half-way 
across the field, and then seeing his chance, 
broke away through the pack. 

Played, sir! Played, sir! came the ap- 
proving shouts, and Roger was off up field 
like a greyhound. 

The middle division of the enemy bore down 
on him. He had outrun all his own men; 
there was no chance for a pass, so tucking 
the leather under his arm, the school captain 
sailed away on his hair-raising run. 

Out-manoeuvering the two quarter-backs, he 
charged down the attacking half, and bowling 
him over, made for the three-quarters. In 
the jockeying for position he was almost 
overtaken and collared by the half again, but 
he got away in time, and smashed his path 
through the attacking three-quarters, to find 
only the county full-back between him and 
victory. 

From the great crowd arose a prolonged, 
hoarse roar, and a babel of excited yells. 
Here was Henley’s chance, and Roger’s, too. 

From the racing field in the rear came a 
babel of shouts. 



HE CHARGED DOWN THE ATTACKING HALF, AND BOWLING HIM OVER 
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A RECORD RUN 


77 


Collar him, sir! Collar him! ’’ yelled the 
county supporters. 

Hack it through, Henley! Hack it through, 
sir,^^ roared the Henley boys. Jackson! 
Jackson! Foot it, Jackson! 

The county full-back, an ex-international 
player, huge of bulk, seasoned, experienced and 
right on edge, waited ten yards from his goal, 
like a spider in his web, waiting, waiting, wait- 
ing for the rushing Henleyite. 

Roger came like a racehorse. Speed was his 
long suit. He took no chance of being over- 
hauled from the rear, but out-distanced his 
pursuers with every stride. Only that big 
back between him and those crossed bars ! 

Confident, waiting still calmly for this long, 
wiry, speeding schoolboy, the county man 
crouched. Like a whirlwind Roger made for 
the left post. In a flash the back had covered 
the threatened quarter. Roger veered, feinted, 
veered again, charged in! The county man 
lunged forward. Had him! Lost him! Had 
him again! Like a slippery eel, the American 
wriggled out from that mighty grasp, back 
swung with his free left arm; leaped forward, 
doubled the post, and planted the oval tri- 
umphantly behind the line! 

“A try! A try! Henley! Henley! A try! 
A try! The air was filled with a thunder of 


78 


HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


deafening shouts from everywhere, as mad 
with pent-up excitement the school broke 
loose in wild riot. 

Get it out, sir! Get it out! Kick it! 
Kick it! the frenzied instructions rang from 
all around the ropes. The grandstand was on 
its feet in an uproar. 

The Henley team captain was on the spot 
next instant. He lost no time. 

Place it, Cossock,” he commanded, and 
next moment Cossock was lying prone with 
the leather in position. A moment^s delibera- 
tion, a run in, a mighty kick, and high, high up 
over the county poles soared the oval. 

A goal! A goal! A goal! ” came the Hen- 
ley yells. 

No sides, ordered the referee, as his 
whistle sounded loud and shrill, and the great 
match was over. 

Score: County, 16 points. Henley, 8 points. 

The school had scored! They were beaten, 
but they had scored. It was not a whitewash. 
Only twice before in the history of the matches 
had Henley scored against the formidable op- 
ponents, and fifty years hence Henley boys 
will boast of that run our school captain — 
that Yankee, Jackson, you know — made 
against the county in 1911.^’ 


CHAPTER X 


A MIDNIGHT TRIP 

Green APPLE had been a more or less inter- 
ested spectator of the great match, and he 
actually condescended to compliment Roger 
on his great run. 

That sprint of yours was all right, Jack- 
son,’’ he said, but you chaps played too darned 
loose; why didn’t your forwards bunch up 
around you and make a wedge? ” 

You can’t form the wedge in English 
Rugby very well,” Roger explained, the play’s 
too fast. If I had waited for that, the county 
forwards would have downed me; my only 
chance was to get well away before they could 
get out of the scrum.” 

Well, it was all right,” admitted Green- 
apple, half grudgingly. 

Say,” the captain announced, “ we intend 
to raise the flag on the new staff next Monday, 
and we’d like you to do it. Considering the 
pole is your gift, we thought it would be only 
decent to ask you. Will you? ” 


80 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

“ Sure/’ chuckled the donor, 111 do it. 
What time Monday? ” 

“ Why, Proct. is going to break off morning 
study one hour earlier — at eleven — so as 
to allow the fellows time to have a little cere- 
mony over the event. All right, then, well 
look to you to hoist the first flag; so long.” 

That same night Greenapple obtained leave 
of absence from his house master until Monday 
morning, and quietly left the school. He had 
previously made a series of hasty visits to 
several tradesmen in Hamenchelt, and was 
apparently disappointed in getting what he 
sought. Now, upon leaving the school, he made 
straight for The Bull, where his big touring 
car was run out waiting for him. He made a 
minute examination of the motor; lifted the 
box off the engine, looked in the tank, and then, 
satisfied that everything was all right, scorched 
off into the night, going southeast along the 
London Road. An hour later he was running 
through the great university town. He did 
not tarry, but leaving Oxford behind, sped on 
his way through Great Marling, Londonward. 
It was nearly midnight when he struck the 
first Middlesex suburb. He slackened speed, 
and threading his way through the increasing 
difficulties of crowded streets, finally brought 
up in front of the glaring lamp that marks 


. A MIDNIGHT TRIP 


81 


the Covent Gardens Hotel. Then the great 
metropolis swallowed him up. 

Late Sunday evening, in the midst of a 
pelting rain and sleet storm, with a mud-covered 
car that spoke unmistakably of country roads, 
he appeared again at The Bull in Hamenchelt. 
He called loudly for the hostler, and in impatient 
tones told him to get into the car with him. It 
was very evident Solomon Greenapple was not 
in the best of tempers. 

I canT go, sir; IVe got to stay around; 
I^m on duty,’^ the hostler told him. 

Get in, I say,^^ curtly ordered the boy again. 
He tossed a sovereign to the hesitating man, 
and almost dragged him into the big motor. 

I won’t keep you half an hour,” he growled, 
as he sped away Henleyward. Now, then, 
you’ve got that sovereign, haven’t you? ” 

Yes, sir,” grinned the man, fingering the 
coin. 

“ All right. Now when we get to the lodge 
gates at the college, lug this big thing out.” 
He pointed to where a huge, bulky package 
occupied the rear seat. The gates will be 
locked; the old fool will most likely be gone 
to bed. You’re to help me get it over those 
iron gates and carry it to my rooms, under- 
stand? ” 

All right, mister,” acquiesced the man, 


82 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

but it ain^t — it ain’t nothin’ as houghtn’t 
ter be, is it? ” 

Of course not,” snarled Greenapple. It’s 
some things I bought in London because your 
darned town didn’t have them. You’re to 
help me carry the things to my room and then 
run the car back to The Bull] you understand, 
now? ” 

All right, mister.” The man’s fingers again 
felt the gold coin in his pocket. “ All right, 
I’ll ’elp you,” he promised. 

They got the package over the iron lodge 
gates all right, but when they reached the 
Murray house main door an apparently over- 
whelming difficulty presented itself to them. 
The main door was locked! All lights were 
out, and the rambling old pile lay silent and 
dark before them. Greenapple bit his lip. 
The hostler waited, expectant. The halt was 
only momentary, however. 

Follow me,” ordered the American, and 
moved quickly away, edging to the left. 

They walked around until, by repeated 
examinations, Greenapple determined he was 
under the window of his den. Then he sprang 
upon the lower window-ledge. He glanced 
down at the gaping man. Wait here,” he 
growled hoarsely. I’ll fling a cord down to 
you in a minute. You fasten that bundle on 


A MIDNIGHT TRIP 


83 


firmly and then boost it up, and when I say 
all right you can go; get out quietly, now, and 
go back with the car. You’ve earned your 
money then.” 

All right, mister,” whispered the man 
fearfully, moistening his hps. 

Murray’s house — in fact, all the Henley 
buildings — was covered with a thick-growing 
mass of ivy. The boy carefully tested the 
sagging, clinging vine. It easily stood his weight. 
He selected the strongest-looking mass, and 
commenced to climb carefully upwards, the 
man watching from below with open mouth. 

The study was on the second floor, and he 
reached it without trouble. But here a new 
obstacle presented itself. His window was 
locked, and he recalled that he had bolted it 
when he left on Saturday. He clung there 
balanced upon the stone window-sill for a 
moment. His brows contracted, and again 
he nervously bit his lips, while a muttered 
growl of “ Hang it,” escaped him. Next mo- 
ment he had solved the difficulty, however. 
His left hand went to his trouser pocket, and 
out came his knife. He opened the blade and 
carefully inserted it between the sashes where 
they met at half distance. A little wriggling 
of the blade and he felt the fixture that held the 
window; then, with but little effort, he sprung 


84 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


the bolt back. He closed his knife, replaced 
it in his pocket, and hoisted the sash; then he 
crawled through the opening, but not before 
he had glanced below and noted that his helper 
was still waiting. 

He started to light the single gas jet with 
which the room was provided, but reconsidered 
his action. Then he entered the little closet, 
and opening his trunk, drew out the rope with 
which it had been corded. Systematically he 
wound one end around his wrist, returned to 
the open window and cast down the free end. 
Then, leaning far out, he hissed: 

Make a slip-knot and fasten it around the 
bundle; get a move on you; tell me when you’ve 
done it.” 

Without a word the man made fast as in- 
structed, and then a fearfully whispered All 
right, sir,” announced the task was completed. 

Greenapple commenced to haul the bulky 
package upwards. It caught here and there 
in the ivy, but with savage energy he tugged 
it free, and soon had it safe on the window-sill. 
Then he leaned out. 

All right, you can go now,” he whispered 
down. 

No sound answered him. The man had 
already slunk away into the darkness. 

Scared to death,” muttered Greenapple, 


A MIDNIGHT TRIP 


85 


with a grin, as he carefully closed the window 
and dragged the bundle into his room, where 
he deposited it in the center of the floor. 

Then he again took out his knife; cut the 
many tough strings, and carefully, almost 
reverently, lifted up the soft, clinging contents, 
and deposited it in his closet. The tough brown 
paper and mass of string followed; then the 
closet door was closed and locked, and in 
darkness the American swiftly undressed and 
flung himself upon his comfortable bed-ham- 
mock. 

By the Great Horn Spoon, I’m tired,” he 
muttered. 

Two minutes later the regular breathing 
told that the exhausted boy was fast asleep. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE FLAG-RAISING 

''Hip-hip!” yelled young Brooks, breaking 
into Roger’s room the following morning. The 
captain and his chum had just been going over 
recitations. 

" Shut up,” ordered Roger, " Dob and I are 
busy. Cut away to your class-room; it’s nearly 
nine now.” 

" Oh, but the junior school has no session 
this morning, you know,” explained the fag. 
" Flag-raising, you know; you chaps are to 
get off at ten-thirty, too. Isn’t it a bully day 
— ripping; clear and fine like spring.” 

'"All right, cut off now, anyway,” insisted 
Roger; " we chaps have two and a half hours’ 
work if you fellows haven’t.” 

" All the fellows are to attend in black and 
mortarboards, you know,” the youngster went 
on, still hesitating in the doorway. 

" I know, I know; cut, I tell you. Look 
here. Dob, this old chap, Babus, is still doing 
his masonry work in the subjunctive, I tell you; 
can’t you get that into your noddle? ” 


THE FLAG -RAISING 


87 


“ There^s the bugle/’ growled Dobson, shut- 
ting his book with a bang; we’ve got to cut, 
too. Come along, old man.” 

We could have got it if that silly beggar 
Brooks hadn’t interrupted,” lamented the cap- 
tain. All right, then, come along; maybe 
Murray can make it clear.” 

Study that morning was beset with diffi- 
culties. From the playing field and quadrangle 
came the shouts of the lower schoolboys 
capering around the great flagstaff, and it 
was a relieved lot of seniors who finally be- 
took themselves to their dens to dress in all 
the full glory of Eton jackets, freshly creased 
trousers, spotless broad collars, and mortar- 
boards. 

Doctor Proctor had been called away by 
the illness of a relative, and the Rev. Milton 
Murray was in charge of Henley. The flag- 
raising ceremony, however, was an unofficial 
event. The flagstaff had been strictly a boys’ 
affair, subscribed for and erected with their 
money, and now a boy had replaced it. The 
flag-raising was to be under the direction of 
the captains. The seniors had bought a great 
British Union Jack, and Greenapple had 
been waited upon and notified to be present 
at eleven o’clock to perform the act of 
hoisting. 


88 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


The four house captains, Powell, Guiting, 
Dobson and Wallace, came in stately march 
from the central entrance of Henley's chapel. 
Each captain held a corner of the flag. At the 
rear followed the school captain, Roger Jackson, 
and behind him came nearly the entire school, 
all in mortarboards and black. 

Where's Greenapple? " demanded the cap- 
tain, as the procession reached the base of the 
newly erected staff. 

He was notified to be here by eleven — 
ah, here he comes now; why — why — " 
broke off Wallace, as he espied the almost 
grotesque figure of the American blundering, 
head down, toward the pole. 

Well, what in thunder is he dragging 
along? " stammered Dobson. 

All eyes were turned toward the approach- 
ing boy, who, clothed in a rough tweed suit, 
'was almost staggering along with a great bulky 
package, the same he had hauled into his den 
the night before. 

Might have taken the trouble to dress 
decent after we asked him," grumbled Guiting. 
“ What in the world has he got there, the 
silly beggar? " 

Nearly every one of the thousand odd boys 
who were congregated around was asking the 
same question. 


.THE FLAG - RAISING 


'' Come along, Greenapple,^^ shouted Roger 
sharply, '' we’re all waiting for you.” 

A premonition of coming trouble came to 
the captain, as he called. 

I’m coming,” growled Greenapple. All 
day before us; no hurry.” 

He arrived at the base of the towering staff, 
rather out of breath, and deposited the bundle 
he was lugging on the canvas that lay around 
the pole. 

What have you got that flag for? ” he de- 
manded, indicating the British ensign. 

To hoist, of course,” Roger said. 

Oh, I’ve got a flag; went to London and 
bought it especially.” He was rapidly unwind- 
ing his bundle, as he spoke. There was a half- 
humorous, half-savage glitter in his eyes. 

The five captains stood apart, uncertain just 
what to do, waiting for him to disclose his 
bunting. 

It looks big enough,” commented Roger, 
with a smile, endeavoring to ease off the situa- 
tion, for the Henley boys clearly did not take 
kindly to the substitution of flags. They had 
subscribed for and bought this Union Jack. 
Still, the new American had put up the staff, 
so they were ready to admit his right to pro- 
vide also the flag if he wished to do so. 

It is a whopper! ” ejaculated Dobson, 


90 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

bending over and examining a corner of the 
bunting Greenapple was taking out. Why — 
why — what kind of a flag is it? 

The Stars and Stripes, of course,’’ growled 
Greenapple, suddenly shaking free a part of 
the great flag. “ Help me whip it on; I can’t 
do it all myself. It’s the largest I could get — 
nineteen by thirty-six feet.” 

What! ” ejaculated Guiting, Wallace and 
Dobson, in unison. “ The Stars and Stripes — 
The American flag! ” 

Powell made a sudden start forward. 

Roger stood still — stood staring at the 
flag of his native land, the dear old Stars and 
Stripes. The blood quickened in his veins, 
and his heart beat a gallop, then his face 
blanched. His premonition of coming trouble 
had not been groundless. 

From the rear came a babel of shouts, and 
the trampling of many youthful feet. 

The American flag! ” “ The Stars and 

Stripes!” The Yankee flag!” the cry rang 
from the rear, as nearly a thousand boys en- 
deavored to crowd to the front. 

Greenapple glanced around quickly. An 
ugly scowl was on his face. 

“ Yes, the Stars and Stripes,” he growled, 
backing away a little. Anything to say 
about it? Guess I have a right to fly 


THE FLAG -RAISING 


91 


my own flag so long as I paid for the pole, 
eh?’^ 

Next instant Roger had recovered himself. 
He was an American, but he was also captain 
of Henley. He strode forward and faced his 
countryman. 

“ Greenapple,^’ he said, and his voice was 
so hoarse he scarcely recognized it himself, 

Greenapple, you ought to know we can^t 
hoist that flag here for the first time; later, 
another time perhaps, but not now; you couldn^t 
expect that, you know.^^ 

Oh, get off,^’ snapped the donor. Sure, 
it^s going up right here and now; help me whip 
it on.’^ 

He commenced to thread on the cord. 

Roger, white, as he always was when labor- 
ing under any strong emotion, sought to stop him. 

There was a slight scuffle — half friendly, 
half in earnest. That started the riot. 

There was a sudden rush of the four captains; 
a whoop and a roar from behind, and the next 
moment the Stars and Stripes was the center 
of a mad, shouting mob of Henley schoolboys. 
The captains, Greenapple and flag went down 
in a mad pell-mell, and a hundred pairs of hands 
were struggling to get at the American flag. 

Roger scrambled to his feet. Greenapple 
was up as quickly, and struck fiercely at his 


92 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

countryman. The captain side-stepped, and 
catching his wrist, he wrenched it down by 
main force. 

Don’t be an ass, Greenapple,” he shouted, 
“ don’t you see the thing can’t be done now 
and here? ” 

'' Put your props down,” roared Greenapple, 
wrenching himself free. '' The flag’s going up. 
It’s going up noWj consarn you all! ” 

The boy was mad with rage. He clung des- 
perately to the Stars and Stripes. Others 
sought to tear it from him. 

Let go! Let go, you loafers! ” he bellowed, 
and with his free hand he cleared a path around 
him. His face and neck were crimson; the 
veins on his forehead stood out like rivers of 
ink, and biff, bang, biff, bang! ” down went a 
Henley boy at every blow. As he backed away, 
forced by the hundreds of yelling schoolboys, 
he still retained his grip on one corner of the 
precious flag; the rest of the bunting trailed 
away on the ground, as he was driven back; 
twenty — thirty feet of it, and over it clawed, 
tramped and tore the angry Henleyites. All 
order, all decency, all form ” was thrown to 
the four winds. Captains and monitors, pre- 
fects and fags; whales, salmons, mackerels, 
sprats, minnows and shrimps, all wriggled and 
twisted, tore, shouted and screamed, in a wild 


THE FLAG - RAISING 


93 


jumble, and in the midst of it all, like a very 
demon, fought back the bull-necked, giant- 
shouldered, red-headed American boy. In vain 
the seniors shouted their commands for order. 
In vain Roger sounded his captain^s whistle. 
Henley had gone mad; heeded nothing, cared 
for nothing, and neither did the rage-crazed 
Greenapple. 

And then suddenly in the midst of that dis- 
graceful scene there sounded, loud and insist- 
ent, the blare of a bugle. Again and again 
it sounded, each time more compelling and 
authoritatively. 

It was the sergeant’s bugle! Old Glum’s ” 
call to fall in.” 

''Fall in! Fall in!” the bugle insisted 
louder and louder. 

By ones and twos; by sixes and dozens the 
boys stopped. They listened. Reason came 
back, and all Henley halted and waited. 

" Fall in! fall in! ” still blared the bugle, and 
then the boys became aware of the tall form 
of the Rev. Milton Murray in their very 
midst, and close by his side. Sergeant Rouse, 
" Old Glum.” The master’s clerical collar 
had been nearly ripped off his neck. One sleeve 
of his black coat was torn from the shoulder, 
and a tiny stream of crimson was trickling down 
over his forehead. 


94 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

An awful silence reigned — a silence the 
more pronounced because of the preceding 
hubbub. Then the master’s voice was heard 
in quiet, authoritative tones: 

Let the school fall in, sergeant.” 

'' Fall in, fall in,” roared the drill master, 
and the mad, rioting Henley of a moment 
before became again the old Henley. 

It was as if some of the parts in a great 
machine had suddenly broken out of place and 
each worked on independently and by itself, 
creating untold confusion, and then as if those 
parts had as suddenly jumped into position 
again, and the whole machine resumed its 
even, rhythmic swing. 

In two minutes a battered and torn crowd 
of breathless boys were formed in six divisions. 

Dress! Little fingers in line with the seam 
of the trousers. Eyes front. Mark time. 
Halt! ” came the loud commands of the drill 
sergeant. Then he stepped back. Henley 
was in hand again. 

The Rev. Milton Murray walked slowly to 
the center of the long lines. 

School captain to the front,” he ordered. 

House captains to the front. Dress. At- 
tention. Follow me, please, gentlemen.” 

One boy had failed to form in line. One 
boy had refused to take part in the general 


THE FLAG -RAISING 


95 


reorganization of Henley. He stood leaning 
against the flagstaff, one corner of the Stars 
and Stripes still in his grip. He was Solomon 
Greenapple. Mr. Murray and the captains 
approached him. The lad was past caring for 
anybody or anything. He stood erect, as the 
little band approached him, and again his 
fists clenched. 

Mr. Murray took no notice of him. His 
gaze was directed upon the long, trailing, 
mud-besmirched Stars and Stripes. 

House captains, each a corner,’’ was his 
command. Jackson, assist me.” 

Carefully, slowly, with reverence, the Henley 
senior house master raised the flag from the 
mud- trampled ground. His features were stern 
and severe. He took his handkerchief from his 
pocket, and wiped the mud from the starry 
banner. He smoothed out the creases; he 
patted down the tears, and then, still very 
carefully and reverently, he commenced to 
fold it in long lengths. 

As he folded it, he came nearer and nearer 
to Greenapple. At last he stood in front of 
the boy. 

Give me that end, Greenapple,” he com- 
manded. 

For a moment the boy looked as if he would 
refuse. He glanced in the eyes of the house 


96 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


master. He saw only good-will and friend- 
ship — almost sympathy — there. He sur- 
rendered his hold. 

'' Thank you/’ said Mr. Murray. Place 
the flag across your shoulder, Greenapple. 
Now follow me, please, and the captains.” 

The small party retraced their steps and again 
faced the long lines of schoolboys. 

Captains to your places; Greenapple, take 
yours,” ordered the master, and all obeyed. 

There came a brief silence. Then Henley’s 
master spoke. 

Boys,” he said, I wish I could forget that 
scene. I shall endeavor to do so. But first I 
wish to tell you something. Something I 
hope you will remember as long as you live. 
You have committed this morning an unpardon- 
able act. Your conduct was that of a crowd of 
roughs. I once saw a regiment of seasoned 
regulars, when under fire, suddenly become 
panic-stricken, and break headlong from the 
field. Your action this morning reminded me 
of them. The cases are precisely similar. 
You both lost your courage, your decency, 
your self-respect. I say nothing of the ill- 
advised action of the boy who undertook to 
hoist this flag. His fault — a mistake of 
judgment, only — sinks into insignificance be- 
sides yours. Henley — Henley fellows! Some 


THE FLAG -RAISING 


97 


of you expect to enter the diplomatic service; 
many of you are pointed for the army and 
navy — all three professions where respect for 
a foreign flag is compelling, paramount; and 
you have failed to show yourselves capable; 
you have failed to grasp the situation. You 
have shown yourselves as a set of ill-mannered, 
ill-bred, contemptible curs. I am ashamed of 
you. This flag — this flag that, next to your 
own, should be the most honored by you — the 
flag for which you should be willing to shed your 
blood, the flag of kinsmen, you have trod upon 
it; trampled upon it; smirched it with mud. 
Out upon you! Shame upon you! All boys 
to their rooms, and remain there the rest of 
the day. Sergeant, march them off.’^ 

“Attention! Form fours, forward; march; 
left wheel, bellowed Sergeant Rouse, and 
Henley was marched off in disgrace. 


CHAPTER XII 


THE AFTERMATH 

Not a Henley boy spoke to Greenapple that 
day. Henley was angry; angry and vexed 
with all; angry and vexed with itself. The 
aggressive American was not the boy to court 
comradeship. He appeared to be perfectly 
content with his own company. He had ex- 
plained this rather pithily to Roger one day 
before when the latter had invited him to 
meet some sixth form boys in the captain’s 
room for tea. No, thanks; don’t care to; 
I’m in good company when I’m with myself,” 
he had declined. 

Afternoon school was resumed as if nothing 
out of the ordinary had occurred. No master 
spoke of the disturbance of the morning. 
Even the seniors had little to say to one an- 
other regarding it. All Henley was pausing, 
considering, taking itself to task. In the lower 
school, however, the juniors could not contain 
themselves with their seniors’ calmness. The 
first, second and third forms were all agog 
with the aftermath of the riot. 


THE AFTERMATH 


99 


He’ll have to be expelled,” cried young 
Hanks to his crony, Brooks, '' and then I won’t 
have to fag for him any more.” 

' Certs, he will,” agreed the captain’s fag. 
‘‘ Henley won’t stand for such a cad, you know.” 

'' We’d have got that flag away from him 
in another second if old Murray hadn’t sprung 
himself on us,” went on Hanks. 

“ Oh, say, wasn’t Murray a sight, though? ” 
exploded Brooks, almost doubling himself up 
with convulsed laughter. 

You bet. His bally sleeve was pulled 
right out, and his collar swiped. Wonder who 
did it? I didn’t know he was there until I 
heard him shouting right on top of me. Who 
pitched into him, do you suppose? ” 

No one in particular; he just got all mixed 
up in the mess, and pulled about; say, it was 
bally bad form, though, wasn’t it? ” 

Rather,” agreed Brooks. “ My man’s 
going to jump on me something awful, I know. 
He hasn’t spoken to me yet, but he looks 
thunder whenever I go in his den. You see, 
Greenapple is a Yankee like he is.” 

Oh, I know, but not in the same class, 
though. Why, Jackson’s a trump and the 
other fellow’s a cad.” 

Say, but Greenapple can scrap, though, 
eh? ” suggested Brooks, a grin breaking over 


100 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


his face, as he thought of the fight of the 
morning. 

“ Well, he oan,^’ half reluctantly admitted 
Hanks. He certainly did hang to that flag; 
our fellows got all mixed up and began clawing 
one another. Why, young Halford got hold 
of me and was downing me, while I was hang- 
ing on to one end of the flag, and even after I 
shouted to him to let me alone, he still hung 
on, the silly beggar; seemed to think I was 
trying to get the flag away from him or some- 
thing of the sort. Never saw such a bally 
mess; every fellow jumped on the other; got 
wild, you know.^^ 

“ There’s going to be a grand flare up about 
it when old Proct. gets back to-morrow. More 
lines, and I haven’t got those done the captain 
gave us for that chariot race yet; he asked me 
for them yesterday. Shouldn’t wonder if 
Proct. doesn’t have the sergeant do some 
tanning for this business this morning, 
though.” 

Say, maybe he’ll tan Greenapple,” cried 
Hanks hopefully. 

Oh,” chuckled Brooks, with solid satisfac- 
tion, '' maybe he \ 'ill.” 

Say, do you suppose,” suggested Hanks, 
a sudden doubt creeping into his mind, that 
he could? ” 


THE AFTERMATH 101 

“ Who, Old Glum? You bet! Who would 
dare to turn rusty against him? ’’ 

ITl bet Greenapple would,” declared Hanks, 
with conviction. I don't believe he cares 
a hang for any one.” 

Well, he followed Murray like a lamb.” 

“ Oh, Murray; that's different. Murray 
has — has — I don't know — a sort of a 
funny way, hasn't he? Looks at you so odd; 
sort of makes you feel ashamed of yourself, 
eh? ” 

The call of his man took Brooks away at 
that moment. He found the captain still un- 
communicative, and the evening's work was 
prepared with little or no conversation; but 
after tea the fag was dispatched with notes 
to the four house captains, and a httle later 
they met in Roger's den, and went into solemn 
conclave. 

There was dissension among the captains. 
Three of them were in favor of sending Green- 
apple at once to strict Coventry ” (ostraci- 
zing him). The school captain was insistent 
that nothing should be done until Doctor 
Proctor took some action. Considerable feel- 
ing was displayed, and a heated discussion 
took place. 

You're just doing this and backing him up, 
Jackson, because he comes from the States,” 


102 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

accused Guiting, who had always been down 
on the new American. 

Yes ” agreed Powell, and you should 
remember you are captain of Henley first 
and a Yankee afterwards. You swore, you 
know, when you were elected, to put the school 
first and everything else afterwards.’’ 

I intend to,” said Roger curtly, every- 
thing except my country, and of course. I’ll 
admit that Greenapple has my sympathy more 
than he would perhaps if he wasn’t an Ameri- 
can. That’s all right, too. I’m an American, 
and my country comes before everything else.” 

Even Henley? ” questioned Guiting, with 
a leer. 

Of course,” snapped Roger, glaring at his 
questioner. 

Look here, what’s the use of you chaps 
making such asses of yourselves? ” demanded 
the bull-headed Dobson. Of course. Yank’ll 
stick up for his country first of everything; 
he’d be a cad if he didn’t, but that won’t 
interfere with his doing the right thing as 
captain of Henley.” 

“ I’m not so dead sure of that,” doubted 
Guiting. 

Nor I,” agreed Powell. 

“ Your uncertainty makes no difference to 
me,” retorted the captain. 


THE AFTERMATH 


103 


“ No, but perhaps it does to the school/^ 

We shall see,^^ growled Dobson. 

“We shall, threatened Guiting, and fol- 
lowed by Powell, he swung out of the door. 

Wallace and Dobson still remained with the 
captain, and again the much-vexed discussion 
was resumed. 

“ I’ll resign in a minute if the fellows want 
me to,” Roger declared. 

“ Don’t be an ass; no one wants you to 
resign; they didn’t mean that at all,” mut- 
tered Wallace. 

“ Yes, those two chaps do,” asserted Roger, 
nodding towards the door. 

“ Oh, they’ve been sore ever since you were 
elected; they’d like a school captain from their 
own houses, of course.” 

“ Why don’t you send for Greenapple and 
tell him he’s got to put this thing straight by 
apologizing or something of that sort? ” de- 
manded Dobson. 

“ I think the apology should come from the 
school as well as from Greenapple,” retorted 
Roger, “ and,” he went on, “ I did send for 
him some time ago, and he told Brooks to tell 
me ^ Go soak my head.’ ” 

“ Nice injunction,” commented Wallace. 

“ Oh, that’s the whole trouble with that 
chap; he’s too hot-headed. He’s off; he’s not 


104 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Henley’s style; you know he isn’t, yourself, 
Yank,” Dobson said. 

All the same,” demurred the Henley cap- 
tain, there’s more to Greenapple than you 
fellows think. He’s all right at the bottom if 
you scratch him deep enough, but he’s been 
continually rubbed the wrong way ever since 
he came here, and it’s made him cross-grained. 
I expect he’ll have to leave Henley; I don’t 
believe he’ll ever stand it here.” 

No, and I don’t think Henley will ever 
stand him,” returned Wallace. 

So without any definite plan of action, with- 
out having accomplished anything, the meeting 
of the captains broke up. 

To the utter surprise of the school. Doctor 
Proctor, upon his return to Henley, took very 
little cognizance of the unfortunate affair. 
After morning prayers next day, his only refer- 
ence was: 

I have heard with deep regret that during 
my absence yesterday you young gentlemen of 
Henley forgot yourselves, and gave an amazing 
display of bad breeding and manners, a sug- 
gestion of which, I deeply regret, has become 
public through the medium of the press. 
I shall have nothing further to say on this un- 
fortunate subject. I believe that your own con- 
sciences will take you more severely to task 


THE AFTERMATH 


105 


than I could possibly do, and will punish you 
far more than any chastisement that I could 
possibly devise. I am deeply mortified; I 
am ashamed of you all. You are dismissed, 
gentlemen.’^ 

The school gasped. Was this to be all the 
aftermath of that unprecedented scene? No 
lines, no crimping, no caning! Henley 
blushed, and was ashamed of itself. 


CHAPTER XIII 


THE SCHOOL CREW 

The captain did not permit the unfortunate 
affair to interfere any more than was possible 
with the practice of the crews for the Public 
School Challenge Vase — the great race on 
the Thames at London — which event was 
now only three weeks away. Neither did 
Mr. Murray, their coach. The house master 
was on hand for evening practice as if nothing 
had happened. Only his slightly discolored 
right eye bore witness to the mel4e of the day 
before. 

The crew for the important event had been 
definitely selected, and the boys took their 
places in the shell in the following order: 

Dobson, 10 st. 11 ... . bow 
Wallace, 9 “ 5 .... 2 

Bradbury, 10 “ 0 .... 3 

Powell, 8 “ 13 .... 4 

Guiting, 8 “ 11 .... 5 

Dodge, 9 “ 0 .... 6 

Jamison, 9 “ 6 .... 7 

Jackson, 9 “ 8 ... . stroke 

Dauncy, 7 “ 6 . . . . coxswain 


THE SCHOOL CREW 


107 


The school eight was a husky one, even for 
Henley, and Henley had always been a “ river 
college.'^ The beef was there, the speed was 
there, and it was to be devoutly hoped the 
staying powers, too, for the Putney to Mortlake 
course over the Thames at London is about 
the most trying, heart-breaking test to which 
any crew can be put, far exceeding the shorter, 
though faster-rowed courses of the great Na- 
tional Regatta at Henley-on-Thames, in Oxford- 
shire. The Putney to Mortlake course is the 
same as that rowed over by the Oxford and 
Cambridge crews in their annual fixture. It 
is four and one half miles in length, and only 
seasoned crews with staying powers can hope 
to negotiate it with any chance of success. 

That afternoon Mr. Murray gave the col- 
lege crew a full-length trial, matching them out 
against three scratch crews, the first taking 
them along to the Crab Tree, the second wait- 
ing for them there, and carrying them along 
to the steel bridge, while the third shell urged 
them along for the final one mile and a half 
to the finishing line at Coberly Mills. 

Mr. Murray, who was a splendid all-round 
man, had been running with them during the 
shorter trials, but was now mounted on a cob, 
megaphone in hand. An old college chum of 
his was also coaching from a launch in the 


108 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


rear. A big following of Henleyites accom- 
panied the crews on the banks, as long as their 
wind lasted. 

The two weak men in the crew were Powell 
and Dodge, at numbers four and six, respect- 
ively. There had been a considerable shifting 
of positions in the middle sliders, but it was 
hoped the final seating had now been settled. 

The school and scratch crew got well away 
at the first start, the regular’s sculls taking the 
water at the crack of the gun, and at once they 
went to the front, the scratch crew pushing 
them for all they were worth. They were 
never in it, however, and at the Crab Tree the 
Thames crew was two good lengths to the fore, 
moving with the precision of a machine, while 
the scratch crew were ragged and fairly played 
out. 

Mr. Murray was complimentary through the 
megaphone, and the Henley shell raced up to 
the second waiting crew, which had got going 
as the Thames crew swept around the bend. 
Roger called on his men for a spurt, and took 
his shell up to the scratch men at a great 
pace. Then he felt something going wrong 
behind him with the middle men, and Mr. 
Murray was shouting: 

Four and six, more leg work! ” 

There was an instantaneous improvement, 


THE SCHOOL CREW 


109 


and the shell ceased its slight rolling. The 
scratch crew was pushing them, however, 
and it was all Roger could do to break even 
with them, canvas to canvas, at the end of a 
fast mile and a half. And then began the last 
grueUng twenty-two hundred yards, with a 
fresh crew to pace them. This was the real 
test. Every man in the Henley shell knew it. 
Again the skipper called on his men for a spurt, 
and again came the dogged reply with a well- 
drawn-through thirty stroke. 

Come along! Come along! shouted Mr. 
Murray, from the bank. Kick your stretcher, 
there, six! More swing, six; youTe getting 
short. More finish, bow, more finish.^’ 

A few boys on the bank were still keeping 
pace with the racing shells, and from them 
Roger suddenly heard shouts of : 

’Ware school shell, there! ’Ware school 
shell! ” 

Mr. Murray had raised his megaphone, too, 
and was shouting at some obstacle ahead. 

Dauncy gave a sharp pull on his starboard 
line: Backwater, all,” he commanded. “ All 

right, pull!” and almost before the crew 
realized it the shell was shooting past a single 
scull outrigger, whose occupant had contrived 
to get his boat in between the racing 
crews. 


110 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


As he flashed past, Roger took a hasty glance 
at the sculler in the outrigger. 

It was Greenapple! 

He was paying little attention to the crews, 
but pulled past them with short, snappy little 
strokes. Angry cries followed him from the 
bank as he sped down stream. It was an un- 
pardonable offense for anybody or anything 
to get in the way of a school shell; all rowers 
were supposed to pull in to the bank and await 
its passing, but little cared Greenapple for 
Henley’s river laws or traditions, and Henley 
was beginning positively to hate Greenapple, 
and abhor the sound of his grotesque name. 

The school shell finally finished the long 
try-out a few feet behind the last of the scratch 
crews, in the very respectable time of 22 min- 
utes, 14 seconds. 

Mr. Murray was satisfied, if not elated. 

There was a little blow against you, but 
you had the current. I think you may have a 
look in if you don’t go stale,” was his comment. 

It was unfortunate the outrigger interfered, 
or I think you might have finished with more 
speed.” 

The incident of Greenapple’s blunder added 
one more to the notches the school was count- 
ing up against him. They considered his act 
had been intentional. As a matter of fact. 


THE SCHOOL CREW 


111 


it had been nothing of the kind. Greenapple, 
quite a powerful sculler, had been returning 
from a long pull up-stream when he first be- 
came aware of the shouted warnings, but before 
he realized it, it was too late to turn in. Had 
he done so, he would have put his shell broad- 
side on to the school crew’s, and been run down. 
He quickly took the only other course left to 
him; he shot in between the two crews, and 
beyond a slight cessation of speed, no great 
harm was done to the hopes of Henley. He 
growled as he pulled on towards the college: 

“ I suppose the idiots think I did it on pur- 
pose. Let ’em. What do I care. I know I 
didn’t, anyway; what would I want to blanket 
their crew for? ” 

He reached the shed, ran in the outrigger, 
and proceeded moodily to his den. He sat 
down at his desk; ran back the roller, and 
savagely pulled out some books. Then his 
eyes traveled restlessly about the room, and 
out through the window. They finally rested 
upon the flagstaff, tapering skyward, bare and 
flagless in the sharp evening spring air. He 
scowled heavily. 

'' Consarn the old thing,” he growled under 
his breath. I wish it would fall down.” 


CHAPTER XIV 


A MYSTERY 

The captain did not often dream, but that 
night, after his return from the pull up river, 
he and Dobson worked along in Roger ^s den 
until well into the night, and when he finally 
ceased study, he was thoroughly tired out. 
Perhaps that may account for his dream. 
Both the boys were entered for the Oxford 
Senior ” examination to be held at Easter. 
Some thirty-six of Henley’s seniors were en- 
gaged in this most difficult test. Both the 
captain and his chum had gone through the 
Preceptor’s examination while in the third 
Yorm. The Oxford Junior had given up its 
honor pass to them as fifth form boys, and 
now they were riding at the big water jump,” 
as Dobson, in his north-country parlance, ex- 
pressed it. This night they coached each other 
along until the clock struck the midnight 
hour. 

I’m through for to-night,” announced 
Roger, flinging himself back in the chair. 


A MYSTERY 


113 


“ Tm with you/^ agreed Dobson, good 
night, old man/’ 

The door banged behind him, and Roger 
lost no time in getting between the sheets. 
Once, ere he dozed off, that impleasant episode 
of the fouling by Greenapple on the river came 
back to him, but he dismissed the thought, 
and composed himself for sleep. He was 
longer than usual that night in wooing old 
Morpheus. A strong wind had sprung up and 
was rattling the sash of his window, and some 
fellow in the room beneath him had suddenly 
come to life, and commenced to punch the bag. 
The biff, bang, biff, bang, of the ball against 
the platform disturbed the captain. 

Confound the idiot,” he growled sleepily. 
“ If he keeps it up long I’ll go down and crimp 
him for it. It’s that beggar Bradbury, I know; 
I don’t see when he gets his sleep.” 

The next thing, he must have dozed off, for 
when he awoke it was all as quiet as the dead. 
The wind had ceased, and the captain lay wide 
awake wondering why. Then he remembered 
he had dreamed. It was all about that wretched 
outrigger of Greenapple’s. He had dreamed 
that the great race on the Thames was on. The 
school shell was just fighting out a punishing 
finish with some other crew, and he had called 
on his men for the last spurt, and then that 


114 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


shell of Greenapple’s suddenly appeared right 
across his bows, and Dauncy had veered off, 
and the other crew had shot to the front and 
won and — Why, what was that? 

Crash! Bang! Crash! Bang! came a 
series of thunderous sounds, and then a tearing, 
a rending and a splintering, and — but Hen- 
ley^s captain waited for no more. With a leap, 
he was out of bed. He dashed to the window; 
he snapped up the shade with a crack, and 
stared out across the quadrangle. It was dark 
as pitch; he could see nothing, but the alarming 
crashing and tearing still continued, although 
in a lessening degree. He heard a window 
flung up above him. Then one on his right. 
A light sprang up here and there from different 
windows. Some one shouted: What’s the 

bally matter, there? ” Then another voice 
answered: Something wrong in the square.” 

Other voices and other lights sounded and 
sprang up everywhere, and then Roger had 
jumped into his trousers and shirt, and was 
bounding down the stone stairs four steps 
at a time. 

He was the first boy to reach the outside. 
The door was locked, but the night porter 
was just on the point of opening it. Roger 
hurried him along, and next moment was out- 
side. He had proceeded but a few steps when 


A MYSTERY 


115 


he stumbled over a big coping stone, and then 
almost came down on his hands and knees, 
as his foot caught in a mass of wire and a splin- 
tered piece of wood. Like a flash the startling 
truth burst upon him. 

The flagstaff was down again! 

Yes, he could see the wreck now by the 
twinkling lights from half a dozen windows, 
as the occupants lit their gas and hurried on 
their clothes. And then he became aware of 
another boy close at his side, not a dozen 
feet away. 

Hello! he shouted. What’s the trouble 
here? ” 

There was no reply. The form vanished. He 
ran toward where it had been, and caught a 
vision of a pair of dangling legs quickly as- 
cending above him. An idea of burglars flashed 
through the captain’s brain, and he sprang to 
grasp the vanishing legs, but they were beyond 
his reach. He heard a scraping above his 
head on the second floor, and then a swift, 
rushing, snapping sound, and a rope danced 
before his eyes for a brief second in the un- 
certain light. He grabbed at it, but it slipped 
away above him and was gone. A window 
closed higher up, and then all was quiet. 
Next moment he was joined by two other lads, 
and then Dobson, all breathless and excited. 


116 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

was with him, and then Bradbury and Cossock, 
and a lot more of Murray house fellows, all 
demanding to know what was up? 

Bring a lantern; get a light from some- 
where,” commanded the captain. The hall 
porter came rushing out with a lantern. He 
held it aloft, and then the boys saw the ruin 
around them. 

It was too true. The flagstaff was down 
again! 

By this time the fourth form master, Mr. 
Kilgordon, was out, and then Old Glum,” 
and Mr. Murray. 

What is all this again? ” demanded the 
Henley house master, as by the feeble light 
of the lantern he endeavored to pierce the 
gloom. 

“ It’s the staff down again, sir,” cried Roger. 

The noise woke us all up. Look, sir! ” 

Seizing the lantern from the porter’s trem- 
bling hands, Mr. Murray climbed over the mass 
of wreckage. Some of the boys had secured 
lights of various description, and together the 
little crowd made their way toward the center 
of the square. 

It was very obvious long before they reached 
the base that the flagstaff was lying prone, but 
a glance at the massive stump of the pole 
caused all to start back with cries of dismay 


A MYSTERY 


117 


and surprise. The great pole, some two feet 
in diameter, had been cut through as neatly 
as a carpenter could do it; sawed completely 
through for three-fourths of its thickness, and 
then the towering pole had evidently toppled 
over, and saved the unknown wrecker the 
trouble of further work, for it was splintered 
and jagged there. 

In an excited, clamoring, amazed group, 
the masters and boys examined the wreck. 

“ Look, sir! ’’ cried Bradbury, appealing to 
Mr. Murray, the thing’s been done on pur- 
pose; it’s been sawed through.” 

“Yes,” Mr. Kilgordon pointed out, as he 
knelt down and made a thorough examination, 
“ and sawed through by some one who knew 
how to do it. See, it has been felled by some 
woodsman who evidently knew his business, 
for he has dropped it so that it fell where 
it would do the least damage.” He pointed 
toward the corner of the quadrangle. 

Mr. Murray remained thoughtfully tugging 
at his chin. “ I cannot understand this,” he 
muttered. Then the next moment he was all 
action. “ Sergeant,” he commanded, “ get a 
squad of the seniors together and stop all the 
exits of the grounds; quickly, please.” 

In another minute two score of seniors had 
been enrolled, and under the direction of Ser- 


118 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

geant Rouse, were spreading out to block the 
various gates to the college grounds. 

Now form a cordon with all the lads you 
can find all around the grounds,’^ shouted the 
master. “ Take them in charge, Mr. Kil- 
gordon. Come along, boys; we must catch 
this miscreant. This dastardly act has been 
done deliberately.” 

The school discipline asserted itself, and 
in a few minutes a cordon was formed all 
around the extensive grounds. A senior was 
posted every twenty yards, with a junior each 
to keep them in touch with one another. 

Doctor Proctor and the rest of the masters 
were upon the scene by this time, and the 
fast sprinters were dispatched in little squads 
to scour the grounds for any lurkers. 

Roger, returning with five or six of his house 
seniors, met Greenapple just emerging from 
the main entrance of Murray’s house. It 
was light now with the gray dawn. 

'' What’s all this darned row? ” demanded 
Greenapple. 

“ Look for yourself; it’s easy reading; your 
flagstaff is down again,” retorted Roger. 

Didn’t you know it? ” he demanded, slowly 
looking his countryman straight in the eyes. 

Greenapple did not reply, but made his way 
forward and commenced to look over the wreck. 


CHAPTER XV 


SUSPICION 

In the gray morning the boys commenced 
to reappear in small companies. They had 
one and all the same story to tell. They had 
found no one, seen no one. Whoever had 
committed the dastardly act had succeeded 
in getting away without leaving any clue as 
to his identity. 

It was an amazed, almost stunned crowd of 
boys who filed into the chapel for general 
morning prayers a few hours later. Doctor 
Proctor had little to say regarding the disaster; 
the old chief’s strong point was always action, 
rather than speech, and he said little beyond a 
passing reference to the unfortunate and das- 
tardly outrage of this morning,” and a promise 
that every effort would be made to apprehend 
the miscreant. The matter has been placed 
in the hands of the local police,” he announced, 
and then Henley was sent to its daily tasks. 

P>ut all day long little knots of boys con- 
gregated about at every opportunity, discuss- 


120 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


ing the amazing, baffling catastrophe of the 
night before. 

Who had demolished their flagstaff? 

The thing’s hoodooed,” affirmed Dobson to 
his chum. 

It was a mistake to permit any one boy to 
erect it at his own expense,” condemned the 
captain. 

I don’t see that has anything to do with 
its being cut down,” demurred Dobson. 

No, it has nothing to do with it, but bad 
luck has seemed to follow ever since; that’s 
all.” 

Well, who do you suppose could have 
knocked the thing down? ” demanded Dobson, 
again turning hopelessly to the much-vexed 
question. 

The captain shook his head. He looked 
worried. 

“ You haven’t any idea, have you? ” still 
persisted his chum. 

There was half a moment’s hesitation on 
Roger’s part, and then he said slowly, and with 
evident deliberation: 

Dob, you and I are chums, and have been 
ever since I came here, so I’ll tell you something 
I shall not tell any other fellow. I have a 
suspicion as to who cut the pole down, but it 
is not strong enough — that is — I have not 


SUSPICION 


121 


enough evidence to make it strong enough 
for me to mention it to you — not even to 
you, old man/^ 

But you have mentioned it,’’ pointed out 
the astonished Dobson. 

“ Yes, I’ve told you I have some suspicion, 
but I’m not going to point out where that 
leads to — that is, to whom — not until — 
not until I’m more sure than I am now. It 
wouldn’t be right to — to the person whom I 
suspect. There, you have it. Dob. That’s 
all you’ll get out of me.” 

Well, old man, I wouldn’t try to pump 
you for anything, but, say, Yank, if you do 
become more certain — that is, you know, if 
you think you’re sure about it, and I can help 
you run the — the — er — person down — why, 
call on me, won’t you? ” 

I will, old man; you may be sure of that, 
and meanwhile, of course. Dob, you won’t 
mention anything of what I’ve said to you to 
the fellows, will you? ” 

Of course not; not after what you’ve said,” 
promised Dobson. 

All day long the captain was moody, and his 
mind continually dwelt upon the circumstances 
of the disaster. That evening he asked Dobson 
not to come to his den, as he usually did for 
preparation work, as he wished to study alone. 


122 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


and after tea, drawing his chair up before the 
comfortable, soft coal fire in the open grate 
of his den, he went into a '' brown study. 
Young Brooks appeared, but he sent him away. 

Again he reviewed the events of the last 
night. His first awakening, his hasty dressing 
and rapid arrival upon the scene. That feel- 
ing that some one was near him, as he rushed 
outdoors. Then the certainty, and then the 
confirmation of that certainty, if any was 
required, by the indistinct vision of a fleeting 
form. His endeavors to grasp that form; its 
escape from him; the certainty it had gone 
upward; the twisting of the rope almost from 
his very fingers; the noise of the closing window 
above him. Where had he been then? Ex- 
actly where? Under whose window? He gave 
a little gasp ; then his teeth shut tightly, and he 
followed mentally his other movements. He 
had rushed out and gathered with the other 
boys around the broken staff. Then he had 
been dispatched in charge of six seniors to 
scour the grounds. He had returned twenty 
minutes later, and had met Greenapple appar- 
ently coming out of Murray^s house for the 
first time, and the boy had asked: What^s 
all this darned row? ’’ He recalled the exact 
words. Was that the first time Greenapple had 
been awakened? Didn’t he know what the 


SUSPICION 


123 


row was? Again Roger’s teeth gritted, and 
again his fingers clenched and unclenched 
nervously. Didn’t Greenapple know? And 
if he did know, why did he ask what was the 
row? He must, in that case, have known, 
and if he knew, why should he pretend he did 
not? But there were so many things to con- 
sider. Was he (Roger) certain he was under 
Greenapple’s window^ when he saw the vanish- 
ing form above him? He asked himself this 
question calmly, forcing himself to consider 
it dispassionately, without thinking of either 
Greenapple or Henley. His definite conclusion 
was that he was within three windows, at least, 
of the new American’s room, and that he might 
have been immediately beneath it, but that 
he could not say for a certainty. Then could 
he say with any greater positiveness who it 
was that scrambled up to that window? No. 
He was sure here. He could not. It had been 
too dark. Next, was that a rope without doubt, 
that slipped away from him, as he endeavored 
to grasp it? Yes, he was certain here. It had 
been a rope, and it had been whisked aloft 
before he could get hold of it. 

The captain leaned back in his reclining 
chair and flung his hands behind his head. 
There was a stern look upon his face. He 
had been educated since first he was old enough 


124 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


to think to discriminate rigidly between right 
and wrong. There could be no middle course. 
He had been taught that. He knew it; he 
believed it; he had always endeavored to hve 
up to it. He had a clean record at Henley, a 
record for that downright straightforwardness; 
that scrupulous regard for the truth that will 
not dally for a single second with untruths. 
As in his sparring he always broke clean in the 
clinches; as in his position at stroke he never 
shirked his work, but pulled his oar through to 
the finish like an honest man, and stuck to it 
until he dropped; as on the gridiron he had 
never been known to make a forward pass 
from off side; and as with the foils he always 
acknowledged promptly the touch ’’ when 
the button got home; so in his school life all 
through everything he carried the reputation of 
a straight ’un.^^ When Jackson said a thing, 
it was so, to the best of his knowledge and 
belief. It was this trait that had carried him 
through from sprat to whale, until now he 
occupied the proud, the honorable and responsi- 
ble position of Henley’s school captain — the 
first boy in the college. 

And now he was up against a great problem. 
A mighty struggle was taking place within 
him. Which was the right course to take? 
There were two. He could shut his mouth, and 


SUSPICION 


125 


say nothing of his suspicions, or he could go 
to the doctor and his colleagues and tell what 
and whom he suspected. Which was the right 
plan of action? 

For a year and more something had been 
growing in Roger — something that many an 
older head than his has felt develop — a strong, 
directing inner self. A voice within him that 
spoke as one with authority; a voice against 
whose decisions there was no arguing; a posi- 
tive, all-powerful influence that commanded 
this way,^' or that way.” Do this,” 
or do that.” This came to the captain always 
when he was quiet; then it was strongest. 
Among other boys, in noise or bustle, its com- 
mands were not so distinct, but when by himself 
— in the silence ” — then there was no 
misunderstanding it. Call it what you will. 
We know it best by the name of conscience. 

It came to him now. It came to him in 
that downright, positive way he had grown to 
know so well. He listened to it. 

No,” the voice commanded. You have 
no right to cast suspicion on any of your fel- 
lows — not upon the evidence you have ; it 
is not strong enough; you would be doing that 
fellow a wrong. Shut your mouth and wait. 
It was indiscreet of you to mention it, even to 
your chum; it has made him uneasy and sus- 


126 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


picious, when he has no grounds for suspicion. 
Remain silent.” 

The captain’s face cleared. He arose from 
his chair and stretched himself. He had found 
the solution of his perplexities. He saw the 
right thing to do, and he would do it. He would 
do his duty as an American, and as Henley’s 
captain. 

He whistled a few bars merrily, and drew up 
to his table with easy mind and concentrated 
himself upon his work for the Oxford Senior. 


CHAPTER XVI 


HENLEY^ S CREW ON THE THAMES 

The school shell, traveling fast between the 
strokes, had just finished and drifted into the 
bank, after another full-length test. The boys 
were exhausted, but elated. The crowd of 
watchers on the bank were shouting for time 
information. 

Twenty-two, seven,’^ Mr. Murray informed, 
as he took the seconds from his timer. 

A mighty cheer went up. It was the fastest 
time yet made by the Henley hopes. 

Mr. Murray took the crew inside the shed, 
and gave them a prolonged talk, as they were 
being rubbed down. 

Your stroke^s down as fine as he can get,’^ 
he told them. If the race were to be to-mor- 
row, he^d be fit. Dobson still needs more work, 
and four and six are weak with their leg-work 
and slow in recovery. Dauncy, your steering 
is excellent, and I have no criticism at all to 
make with the way you handle the lines, vdth 
the exception that I would say you should 


128 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


watch your men a little closer, and keep your 
skipper posted. On the last four hundred 
yards, four and six, in endeavoring to keep 
up with Jackson’s stroke, got into difficulties. 
You should have posted him.” 

Four and six are lazy, sir,” Roger com- 
plained, with a wink at Powell and Dodge. 

If I had slowed down at the finish they 
would have only taken it still easier.” 

The two weak men, lying prone on planks, 
denied the captain’s imputation with vehe- 
mence, and insisted that they rowed up to 
their last ounce. 

Oh, well,” Mr. Murray consoled, you’ve 
four more days yet, and you two have plenty 
of weight, so there’s no need to spare your- 
selves.” 

'‘Only four more days!” exclaimed Roger, 
" why, the race isn’t for a week yet, sir.” 

"I know,” the coach admitted, " but during 
the last three days you must be on the Thames 
getting used to the course and practising 
starting. You leave Henley next Wednesday, 
and will put the finishing touches on in London. 
Have no fears, boys, when next Saturday 
comes I shall put you on your sliders fit to 
row the race of your fives.” 

The coach was as good as his word. When 
that great Saturday dawned the Henley crew. 


HENLEY’S CREW ON THE THAMES 129 

looking like greyhounds, and moving with 
the precision of a well-oiled machine, paddled 
slowly down to the starting point at Putney. 

American boys may find it difficult to be- 
lieve that the river commerce of the world^s 
greatest city is completely suspended for 
two hours in order that the British public 
schools may determine which among them is 
entitled to claim the premier position in the 
aquatic world that year. Such is the fact, 
however. Twice a year the river police stop 
incoming and outgoing craft from and to the 
port of London for the space of two hours; 
once when the great universities settle the 
question and once again when the public schools, 
from which later will come the university stu- 
dents, also determine the same question. 

Thus it was that the Henley eight, as they 
paddled slowly down to Putney, gazed out 
upon an empty river — empty along its broad 
reaches as far as Mortlake — four and one 
half miles of magnificent water, winding away 
in much the shape of an elongated S. 

But the river edges — the banks ! They were 
far from being deserted. Thousands upon 
thousands, and tens of thousands upon tens 
of thousands crowded them at every vantage, 
making the banks black, against which the 
great structure of Hammersmith Bridge stood 


130 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


out spindling and gaunt-looking. What a 
magnificent view must that solitary policeman 
obtain, as stationed exactly in the center of 
the bridge, in solitary grandeur, he looks up 
and down the river. One always envies him 
on race days. But, after all, perhaps the occu- 
pants of the pufiing, fussy little steamers in 
the rear have as good an all-round view as 
any one. They see the entire race from start 
to finish, whereas the rest of the spectators have 
only a passing glimpse, as the shells flash past 
them. 

But httle was the Henley crew thinking of 
these things. Attend strictly to the starter 
and your own shell, had been Mr. Murray’s 
last word, as he watched them push off, and 
Henley was endeavoring to follow instructions 
that day. 

The battle of river supremacy between the 
public schools had been fought out on the rivers 
of the different contestants, until only three 
had qualified for the final test on the Thames. 

The far-famed Eton crew; the always-dan- 
gerous Radley boys, and the budding aspirants 
for national rowing honors, Henley College. 
Last year Eton had won by lengths, so now, 
as challengers, the Henley and Radley crews 
appeared first at the starting point. 

With what deafening shouts did the river 


HENLEY’S CREW ON THE THAMES 131 


crowd greet the Hed and White Radleyites, 
as, swinging like the pendulum of a clock, 
their boys came first to the starter's launch. 
And then another outburst of enthusiasm, as 
the Red and Black colors of the boys from 
Gloucestershire hove in sight, and yet a mightier 
shout, as London's favorites, the great Eton 
crew, swung leisurely down to join their two 
rivals. 

Some hundred odd boys had been given 
permission to attend from Henley, and of course 
old Doctor Proctor would not miss witnessing 
the efforts of his school. He and most of the 
Henleyites were massed in the bows of their 
boat, a big, broad-beamed Thames paddle- 
wheeler, and the air vras filled with their vocif- 
erous shouts of Henley! Henley! Hack 
it through, Henley! " that familiar battle-cry 
that has so often nerved the old boys of Henley 
to many a gallant deed on field and ocean. 

And then a great silence fell upon the watch- 
ing thousands everywhere. The crews were 
taking up positions. Radley had evidently 
won the toss, for their shell was backing on 
the Surrey side; then came the Etonians, with 
Henley on the outside, Middlesex bank. Their 
captain, always unfortunate with the coin, had 
lost both tosses, and was forced into the least 
desirable position, at least for the starting. 


132 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


He would have the advantage later, however, 
when they rounded the great bend. 

And then came that momentous, ever- 
familiar question : 

“ Are you ready? 

Almost before the crowd on the bank had 
realized it, there came the sharp crack of a 
pistol, and the shells, looking like long arrows, 
were off. 

‘^They’re off! They^re off! the old cry 
rang along the banks. 

The Eton boys had caught the water first, 
and their flag at once showed to the fore. Rad- 
ley was after them in workmanlike style, while 
the Henley shell, on the Middlesex bank, was 
only a few inches behind. 

The race was on! 

For the first half-mile all the crews were pro- 
tected from the east wind, but as they reached 
the Concrete Wall, the Henleyites first got the 
rough water, and it told on them. Eton in- 
creased her lead to nearly half a length, but 
Radley held her close. 

Never mind if you lose water a bit round 
the wall,^’ Mr. Murray had advised his crew, 
when he learned the positions. You must 
expect that, as you get the bad water first. 
Increase the length of your stroke, .Jackson, 
and keep your crew from getting ragged.^’ 


HENLEY’S CREW ON THE THAMES 133 


The Henley skipper had drank deeply from 
the rich fountain of his coaches experience. He 
did not hurry his men, but kept the form up. 
The Henley crew was rowing a pow^erful thirty 
stroke, and the long, sixty-foot shell was travel- 
ing very smoothly, considering the rough water 
they were encountering. 

At the Grass Wharf Eton was just clear of 
Henley, but Radley, with some difficulty, was 
just holding them, rowing a short, snappy 
thirty-two stroke. Then Roger called on his 
men for their first effort. They gave it with a 
will, and shot under Hammersmith Bridge a 
bare length to the rear. Radley was falling 
behind now. Once, twice, thrice they spurted, 
and once, twice, thrice they made a momentary 
gain. From the great crowds on the banks came 
deafening roars, and carried down to the hard- 
pulling Henley crew, in spite of the wind, came 
the encouraging shouts of: Rowed, Henley! 
Rowed, indeed, sir! Rowed! ’’ from the green- 
shire contingent on the following steamer. 

The struggle was evidently between Eton and 
Henley. Radley was getting ragged; their 
stroke increased to a furious thirty-four, but 
Roger still stuck to his powerful thirty. He 
could feel the men behind him were full of ginger; 
the shell traveled with that confidence-inspiring 
speed between the strokes, that tells of power 


134 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

and finish. The feather back was faultless. So 
far all was well, despite the lead of the Etonians. 
There was nothing the matter with the Eton 
crew, though; they were holding themselves 
well in hand. Just how much staying power 
they had back of them, Roger did not know; 
he only felt that his own men were going all 
right, and that was enough for him. He had not 
called heavily on them as yet. The test would 
come at Barnes^ Bridge. 

At Corney Reach the Henley shell got the 
disadvantage of the rough water again — their 
position was giving them all the worst of the 
deal that day — and again he had to demand a 
spurt to maintain his position. The captain 
felt the weak spots at four and six, and Dauncy 
called savagely at Powell and Dodge. Those 
two boys always showed badly in rough water. 

They pulled it through somehow to Chiswick 
Tyot, with only the loss of a foot or so, and then, 
once more in smooth water, Roger nodded to 
his coxswain, and set a grueling pace for 
Barnes’ Bridge. Little Dauncy was putting 
more than his head and hands into the work; 
his very soul was going out, as backward and 
forward; backward and forward he swung in 
unison with the dogged crew before him. 
He was steering a magnificent race. 

'^Henley! Henley! Rowed, Henley! 


HENLEY’S CREW ON THE THAMES 135 


Rowed, indeed, sir! came the inspiring shouts 
from the college steamer, while from the 
banks a dull, hoarse roar of confusion followed 
the two crews, as they shot under Barnes^ 
Bridge, with the Windsor town (Eton) crew to 
the fore by the length of their forward canvas. 

Now came the struggle! Now for the final 
test! That last half-mile that breaks so many 
a good crew! Could the greenshire boys stand 
the pace? The Eton crew was rowing in mag- 
nificent form — a well-drawn-through thirty- 
two, and Roger called on his men for another 
effort. It came, but not with the same prompt- 
ness as before. 

The captain was tired, himself — very tired, 
but he knew' that familiar feeling; it could be 
rowed down, and he was going to do it. He 
gritted his teeth; kicked his stretcher and pulled 
for all he was worth. He would keep it up if 
he broke the men behind him. It was now or 
never! If they could not stand the pace, they 
must go to pieces, there wsis no alternative. 

Again Dauncy yelled at the offending four 
and six: 

Dodge! Powell! Pull it through! Pull 
it through ! All together — one — one — one ! 

They were coming again! Roger could feel 
them! There was more finish. The shell was 
traveling faster between the strokes. Come on! 


136 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Come on! Come on! He was almost level 
with his rival, the Eton stroke, now! He 
heard their coxswain yelling at his crew, and 
knew that they, too, were in difficulties. Oh, 
for that last fraction of an ounce that wins 
the race! Now for it! Now for it! 

The babel at the finishing post broke on his 
ears. It was close, very close. He was level! 
Level with the Eton stroke! 

One, one, one! yelled Dauncj^’, as frantic- 
ally, with voice, body and very soul, he urged 
the almost-gone men in front of him along: 
“ One, one, one! Come, come! ’’ 

A mist — a something gray and black — 
seemed to envelop Roger. He could not see 
the Eton shell now — only his own knees and 
toes; the shell was rolling. All around he 
heard a roar — a roar that was deafening — 
why — why — was that people shouting? It 
sounded to him like surf breaking on the shore. 
Was he going to faint? Was he going to faint? 

Not much,’’ he rasped to himself. It’s that 
last effort that always wins, that very last, 
when you feel you haven’t another in you. How 
fearfully heavy the oar was — was — was it 
wedged in the outrigger? Why — why — 
was that someone shouting: Henley! Hen- 
ley! — Henley — Henley — Hen — ” His oar 
slipped from his grasp and he slid weakly back- 


HENLEY’S CREW ON THE THAMES 137 

ward. The boat rolled so he thought it was 
capsizing. Daiincy was leaning over him and 
clinging to him. Was it all over? Had he 
given in? '' Henley— Henley — Henley — Hen- 
ley ! Henley wins ! — wins — wins — wins ! 

The last babel died away in Roger’s ears, 
and it was not until two or three minutes later 
that he discovered Dauncy leaning over him 
again, and shouting, or whispering or saying 
something. 

Look out, you’ll capsize her,” mumbled 
the captain. 

“You old duffer, we’re out — we’re in the 
shed — we’re — ” 

“ Did — did we win? ” whispered the Hen- 
ley skipper. 

“ Bet your sweet life we won ! ” almost yelled 
Dauncy, exultingly, as he capered wildly about, 
utterly forgetful that he was a Henley senior. 
“Won by inches, with two dead men in the 
shell! ” 

“ Not — not dead? ” gasped the skipper. 

“Not dead — of course not, you old idiot. 
Keeled over — all in — fainted. We won! 
We won! We won! ” 

“ Henley! Henley! Henley! ” came the 
shouts from outside, and Roger leaned back 
and rested comfortably, endeavoring to wink 
at the purple features of Powell and Dodge, 


138 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


as they lay near him, while Dobson, sitting 
with a wet towel around his brow, and crowned 
by a lump of ice, growled with monotonous 
singsong: We won — we won — we won! 


CHAPTER XVII 


CELEBRATION 

What — by what did we win? inquired 
Roger. 

Inches/^ laconically replied Dauncy. The 
judge gave us a foot.’’ 

Oh, it wasn’t,” denied Dobson, suddenly 
sitting up, and coming to life. It was a yard. 
I saw — ” 

Dob,” rebuked the coxswain severely, 
you always cast doubts upon the official 
verdict.” 

Well, I don’t care a hang,” argued the 
combative bow, I looked across just as we 
finished, and I was a yard in front of their 
bow. I saw — ” 

Oh, go ’way. Dob; you always do see 
things at the finish of a race, but you’d have 
had a difficult job to have seen their bow, for he 
was keeled over, with his head rammed against 
number six in his slider. I tell you, you chaps, 
I never saw such a race in my life. You rowed 
each other to a standstill, and there were dead 
men in both shells.” 


140 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Where did Radley finish? ” demanded 
Roger, also sitting up, and beginning to re- 
cover. 

Why,” Dauncy explained, they were 
tailed off a mile from the finish, and then you 
two crews just pulled and pulled and pulled 
until you had each other at a standstill, and 
you almost stopped; and if it hadn^t been 
that you had the cover of the bank, the wind 
would have blown you both back, and then 
Radley, seeing how things were, came on again, 
and at the finish they were only two lengths 
astern; why, if it had been another hundred 
yards they’d have come on and won — swear 
they would.” 

Was it like that, no fooling, Daunce? ” 
demanded the skipper. 

On my oath, it was,” affirmed Dauncy. 
'' But here comes a crowd of the fellows; they’ll 
tell you. You didn’t row in; you just drifted 
in by a foot, with what steerage way you had 
on you.” 

With a whoop and a roar, a crowd of Henley 
fellows burst into the little shed, and then the 
story was gone over and over again, and the 
amazing finish related to the doubting crew. 
And presently old Doctor Proctor and Mr. 
Murray and Mr. Kilgordon came in and con- 
gratulated them, The old Cambridge Blue 


CELEBRATION 


141 


was unusually elated for him, and shook the 
hand of every man of the crew, and told them 
that pluck, and pluck alone, had pulled the 
shell over the line first. 

And your coaching, sir,’^ Roger reminded 
him. 

The old Cab smiled. Well, that^s very 
nice of you to say that, Jackson, I'm sure. 
But it was a jolly well pulled finish. You lads 
did extremely well; extremely. I am very 
much gratified. It is the first time Henley 
has placed the trophy to its credit, you know." 

But what a reception did the crew get upon 
its return to Henley! Of course, the entire 
school turned out, and of course they would 
that day permit no horses to drag the coach 
containing their favorites. A hundred enthusi- 
astic lads harnessed themselves up, and back 
came the Henley Thames crew in magnificent 
triumph under the big arches erected by town 
and school on the streets, dragged by a mob 
of yelling, gesticulating Henleyites, with the 
great silver Challenge Vase conspicuously dis- 
played on the box seat, and the spokes of the 
wheels, the backs of the seats and every other 
vantage point ablaze with the red and black 
college colors. 

And then a burly, rolling, red-faced figure, 
that spoke eloquently of the Channel chops and 


142 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


stormy seas, seized the hand of the Henley skip- 
per, as he was lifted to the ground by a dozen 
pair of willing hands. Old Captain Joshua 
Dobbs, the Channel seaman, and master of 
the brig Kate 77, pushed his way through the 
crowd of yelling schoolboys, and his voice 
was raised in a mighty hail: 

“ What, ho, me young hearties, what ho! 
Bringing the prize back into port, be ye? 

Hello, Captain Dobbs! shouted Roger, 
endeavoring to make his way toward the old 
sea dog; “ you’re always on hand when there’s 
anything doing.” 

Bet your life I be — how be ye. Mister 
Dobson, how be ye, sir? Yer lookin’ broader ’n 
ever, and almighty well.” 

The redoubtable captain was gripping with 
his huge paw a hand here and a hand there, 
for Captain Dobbs was a great favorite with 
all Henley. His brig, the Kate 77, plied between 
Bristol Channel ports from Bristol to Pen- 
zance. It was while on one of these trips 
that his first ship, Katej had gone aground on 
the Homer Sandbar,” and he and his crew 
had been brought ashore by a party of Henley 
boys, who were returning from a pleasure trip. 
Since that time there was nothing too good 
for Henley or Henley boys; nothing the old 
salt would not do for his favorites. Never a 


CELEBRATION 


143 


Speech Day passed but his rollicking, roll- 
ing form was seen at the college, where he was 
always a welcome guest; so now it was not 
surprising that he was to the fore to welcome 
home his boys on this, one of their greatest 
days of triumph — the bringing back of the 
much-coveted Public School Challenge Vase 
from the Thames. 

There was an impromptu gathering in The 
Classic as soon as school was reached, and 
deafening shouts of: A speech! A speech 
from the captain! ’’ plainly showed that Henley 
was going to hear its first boy speak. 

You, Dauncy; you do it,” urged Roger, 
endeavoring to thrust forward the coxswain. 
Dauncy was the school gold medalist and 
crack debater, but he was not to be inveigled 
into taking the privilege of first speech ” 
from the great school stroke. So Roger found 
himself standing on a desk and waiting for 
silence, for as the clean-cut figure of the young 
American towered above them from the desk 
elevation, Henley went mad again. Deafening- 
shouts and cheers finally merged themselves into 
the endless “ Kentish Fire,” and the rhythmic 
stamp, stamp, stamp, clap, clap, clap, that, 
like the brook, seems to go on forever. At 
last, however, Henley was exhausted, and 
stopped and Hstened. 


144 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Henley fellows/^ commenced the captain. 

WeVe done it (frenzied cheering). WeVe 
brought back the vase (tremendous enthusi- 
asm). It was a jolly tough pull, as some of 
you who saw it, know. (Cries of: Oh, well 
rowed, sir; well rowed! ’’) Every fellow in 
the shell did his duty Hear, hear, sir! ^^), 
and the Eton and Radley chaps rowed a great 
race (“ We won by inches ^0* Yes, we won by 
inches, but some of us in our shell didn’t know 
it till afterwards (more Kentish firing). We 
were a jolly well played-out crew when we 
finished, and it was a bit of a fluke, you know, at 
the end. (“ No, no, no,” vehemently denied 
Henley.) Well, anyway, we’ve got the vase 
(fearful hubbub), and now I want to propose 
that we all of us give three times three for 
Eton, and then t|ie same for Radley; those 
chaps pulled till they could pull no longer, 
and — ” but the school was off again, giving 
with a will the three times three for their 
rivals, and when at last the din was over, the 
slight figure of Augustus Hauncy was distin- 
guished through the dust, waiting for silence. 

Gentlemen,” he began, “ there is one duty 
— a most pleasurable duty — that now falls to 
my lot. It is this: To propose a vote of 
thanks to our unrivaled, indefatigable coach, 
the Rev. Milton Murray, without whose in- 


CELEBRATION 


145 


structions we could never have won (terrific 
cheering). The honor lies more with Mr. 
Murray than with the crew, although we all 
did our best. Now, gentlemen, all together, 
with one foot on the desks: ^ For he^s a jolly 
good fellow * — come along! ” 

And then the school was off again in that 
riotous, rollicking, rolling refrain that repeats 
itself over and over again : 

“ For he’s a jolly good fellow, 

For he’s a jolly good fellow, 

For he’s a jolly good fellow. 

And so say all of us, and so say all of us, 

And so say all of us, and so say all of us, 

For he’s a jolly good fellow and so say all of us — 

“ With a hip-hip-hip — hurrah! 

With a hip-hip-hip — hurrah! 

With a hip-hip-hip — hurrah! 

And so say all of us.” 

There is no saying when the refrain w’ould 
have ended if old Captain Dobbs had not been 
observed scrambling up on a desk. His huge 
red paw was held out for silence, and Henley 
stopped. 

I wants ter ’dress all hands,” declared the 
Channel skipper. Rah for Captain Dobbs 
— rah for the old boy! ”) I wants ter ’dress 
’em from th’ mast, so ter speak, an’ tell ’em 
as I’m almighty proud o’ th’ school ter-day. 


146 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

I seen that there finish, an^ there weren’t no 
finer showin’ o’ pluck ter be seen nowhere. 
Boys as’ll pull as they pulled can’t never be 
beat. They’ll make their mark wherever they 
goes — just plumb can’t help it, no wise. My 
missus, as stood longside o’ me on that^there 
penny steamer, nigh bust with excitement, 
an’ had ter rest quite a spell a’terwards. There 
weren’t nothin’ finer ter be seen nowhere at 
no time, an’ I’m mighty proud o’ yer all. God 
bless yer all, and God bless th’ old school as 
breeds such ’uns.” 

And then at last it was over, and Henley 
betook itself to its dens and classrooms, there 
in recollection to fight over that great battle 
again. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THE CAPTAIN AND HIS COUNTRYMAN 

“It’s too bad,” Dobson lamented, “ that 
there’s no staff on which to hoist the school 
flag. Here’s the greatest kind of an oppor- 
tunity, and we’ve no pole to fly the flag on.” 

“ There’s the little one in front of the chapel, 
and the little one by the gym,” Roger pointed 
out. 

“ Oh, I don’t mean toothpicks — I mean a 
real staff hke the one in the quad — say, Yank, 
who in thunder could have cut that one Crab- 
apple gave us? ” 

“ The one Greenapple gave us,” the captain 
corrected. 

“ Oh, that’s his new nom-de-plume. He’s so 
beastly sour the fellows all call him ' Crab ’ 
now.” 

“ I wish they’d be decent to him; he only 
wants half a chance, and he’d get along swim- 
mingly. He’s had it all rubbed into him the 
wrong way ever since he came here,” complained 
the captain. “ He showed he wanted to pull 
with us by offering that flagstaff.” 


148 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Maybe, maybe, growled Dobson, un- 
convinced. 

And, you know,’’ Roger resumed, he’s 
coming up to Oxford with the rest of us fellows 
next week to take that exam, and I suppose 
he’ll be at the same hotel with us. I hope the 
chaps will be decent to him then.” 

Well, he’s got to make his own position 
here; we can’t make it for him,” summarized 
Dobson. Say, Yank,” he suddenly de- 
manded, abruptly changing the subject, you 
haven’t found out anything more regarding 
that flagstaff affair, have you? You know, 
you said — ” 

No, I have found out nothing more,” de- 
clared Roger shortly. Now for this everlast- 
ing grind; let’s get at it, Dob.” 

The two lads resolutely attacked their work. 
The great Oxford Senior was now only one 
week away. It is always a stiff jump,” as 
Dobson put it. It is a fair test of one’s ability, 
and an exhaustive one, too. Latin and Greek 
and one modern language must be prepared, 
with all the books of Euclid, as well as the 
modern studies of political economy, etc. 
What with the classic and modern, the Oxford 
Senior was, as Dobson said, “ a stiff fence at 
which to ride.” 

The manner in which they went at their 


THE CAPTAIN AND HIS COUNTRYMAN 149 

studies was illustrative of the different dispo- 
sitions and characters of the boys entered. 
Roger was fast —always fast in study or 
sports. It was sometimes necessary for him to 
go back and pick up again, but undoubtedly 
he was rapid, and as a rule thorough. Dobson, 
his running mate, was slower — much slower, 
but possessed of that grim determination that 
brooks no obstacles. Eventually he got 
there,’’ a little behind his fast-moving chum, 
perhaps, but always he arrived.” He was a 
safe man,” as the school expressed it. Then 
there was Bradbury, a lad of less strength of 
character, but improving fast, and Cossock — 
Andrew Cossock-Cossock, a plodder; one of 
those slow, ponderous plodders who always 
make good eventually, but go sometimes 
with annoying slowness. His tutor had once 
said of him: “ I have seen Cossock beaten a 
dozen times at the same problem, but I have 
yet to see him finally routed.” Those words 
exactly describe Andrew Cossock-Cossock. And 
then there was Greenapple, a really brilliant 
scholar. His towering forehead was not there 
for nothing. It spelt brains; power. Green- 
apple was little short of a genius in his work. 
All subjects came alike to him. He swallows 
them like a shark,” Dobson half grumbled, 
in talking of him to the captain. His real 


150 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


power lay in concentration. Pie would lie 
around apparently idling for hours, and then 
suddenly spring into life, and get at his work 
with astounding energy. Everything seemed 
to come to his fingers^ ends at his call. He 
always studied alone. No running mate helped 
Greenapple. In class at recitations he would , 
state his propositions and then prove them with 
a readiness that was little short of uncanny. 
Undoubtedly Greenapple was Henley^s most 
brilliant boy. Of course, there was little 
Dauncy, who could outshine him on some 
subjects, but as an all-round man Greenapple 

was there with the goods, to quote Roger 
Jackson. 

Taken altogether, Henley’s representatives 
at the forthcoming test were likely to give a 
good account of themselves, and Doctor Proc- 
tor was well satisfied with them. 

The middle and lower schools were grinding 
hard for the Easter college examinations, 
which occurred a week after the Oxford. 
Young Brooks, the captain’s fag, was looking 
after his man’s wants with a faithfulness that 
knew no bounds, and Roger, now that the 
training was over, was working sixteen out of 
the twenty-four hours. He was in splendid 
form, mentally and physically, and so was his 
chum, Dobson, 


THE CAPTAIN AND HIS COUNTRYMAN 151 


Only one matter gave Roger any uneasiness, 
and that was that wretched flagstaff affair. He 
could not help thinking over his suspicions 
sometimes, try how he would. The debris 
of the demolished pole had been cleared away, 
and Doctor Proctor announced that for the 
time being, at least, no effort would be made to 
replace it. So Henley was without its great 
flagstaff that had stood always, and on which 
it was wont to blaze to the world its triumphs 
on river, field and classroom. 

But now an ugly rumor began to be whispered 
around. Young Hanks, Greenapple^s fag, was 
the one who started it. 

The day after the riot in connection with 
the flag raising, Greenapple, in a very bad 
temper, had, in reply to some query of his 
fag, blurted out: 

“ I wish I’d never given the darned pole 
now; I’d be glad if it was chopped down. I’d 
do it for two pins, too, confound it all! ” And 
then the day following the second disaster 
Greenapple had expressed himself as being 
thundering glad it was down ” and had 
hoped “ the silly fools could never get enough 
cash to put up another.” 

These two phrases had been reported by the 
youngster; they had sped from mouth to mouth, 
and had not lost anything in the telling. 


152 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

'' Look here! shouted Tucker, a fourth 
form boy, renowned for his stuffing/^ “ Look 
here, this beast of a Yankee — this Greenapple, 
swore he was going to chop the pole down — 
the one he gave, just because we wouldn’t let 
him hoist his flag. Told his fag so; I had it 
straight from Billings.” 

Who told him? ” demanded an interested 
listener. 

'' Oh, it came from Hanks first; he fags for 
Greenapple, you know. Shouldn’t be a bit 
surprised if the beggar cut it down himself; 
he’s so bally wild because we wouldn’t let 
him hoist his old flag.” 

Reader, have you ever played a game called 

Scandal? ” You spin a yarn; whisper it to 
your neighbor, and he repeats it to his next- 
hand man. The story goes down the line, and 
when it has reached the last one, he tells it as 
it was given to him. Why, you don’t recognize 
your story. The difference is amazing. This 
illustrates exactly what happened in this case. 
At the end of two days it was confidently whis- 
pered all over school that Greenapple swore he 
was going to chop his flagstaff down. It was 
stated that two boys had actually seen him 
sallying forth at dead of night, axe in hand, 
to fulfil his threat. Then the wildest rumors 
began to float around. The captain had 


THE CAPTAIN AND HIS COUNTRYMAN 153 


called him in and accused him flatly of having 
done it, and Greenapple had turned on the 
captain like a tiger and felled him, at the same 
time owning up that he had done it and was 
glad, and that he w^ould chop down any staff 
that might be erected in the future. A bruise 
that decorated Roger’s right eye — one he had 
received in a fast four-round affair with the 
gloves from Dobson’s ever-ready left — lent 
color to the rumor, and then the school took 
matters into its own hands, and next day 
Greenapple discovered himself at Coventry.” 

Do you know w’hat that means? It means 
that you are cut — ostracized. That no one 
speaks to you from morning to evening. That 
fellow's who have been friendly with you now 
look another way, and if you speak to them, they 
pass on with a glassy stare. 

Greenapple had never been popular. He 
possessed few speaking acquaintances, but still 
he had been tolerated. Fellows answered him 
w^hen he spoke to them. They were civil, if 
not friendly. But now all was changed. The 
decree Greenapple at Coventry ” had gone 
forth. His fag failed to come to his room, and 
when he went in search of him, he discovered 
his way beset with difficulties. Not a boy 
replied to him when he asked if they had seen 
anything of Hanks, and when at last he saw 


154 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

his fag in the distance, idling under some shade 
in one of the first warm days of spring, the 
youngster, with insolent bravado, refused to 
notice or speak to his man. Greenapple would 
have dragged him by force to his room, but a 
dozen pair of friendly hands spirited the junior 
away. It is of no use to possess an unwilling 
fag. If the boy will not, of his own free will, 
fag for you, he is worse than none, and Green- 
apple realized this. He returned to his den, 
swearing vengeance. He needed a fag now — he 
needed him badly. The Oxford was right on 
him, and he was putting on the finishing touches 
to any possible weak places. Now, if ever, he 
required a fag. In his difficulty he went to 
the captain. He had learned enough of Henley’s 
regulations to know that its captain was all- 
powerful. 

“ See here, Jackson,” he blurted out, as 
he discovered Roger grinding in his den. I 
thought you said I could have a kid to fag 
for me, didn’t you? ” 

The Henley captain looked up. He knew 
the difficulty. 

Yes,” he replied, “ you can have one; I 
recommended young Hanks to you.” 

Well, the little beast’s skipped; jumped 
ship; deserted.” 

What’s the matter? ” 


THE CAPTAIN AND HIS COUNTRYMAN 155 


“ Search me. The whole dog-goned crowd of 
those chaps are off their bases; thaUs my honest 
opinion, Jackson. Not one of them ever opens 
his mouth to me, and if I ask them anything 
they pretend they don’t hear me. Not that 
I give a continental for the whole gang here; 
I can get along without them, but so long as 
the rules are for the seniors to have a kid to 
wait on them, I want one. Give me one.” 

Roger got up, a smile stealing over his worried 
features. He turned out his pockets and shook 
his sleeves. 

Think I have one secreted? ” he demanded 
half jokingly. 

Don’t get funny,” snarled Greenapple 
grumpily. I want my fag. If I was at home 
I wouldn’t bother; but here, where it’s the 
rule, I want one, and mean to have one.” 

I haven’t got one,” declared Roger again. 

You’ve got to get your own kid, and there 
is no rule to make one boy fag for another; 
it’s simply an unwritten Henley law — a cus- 
tom, you know.” 

Shucks! ” ejaculated the disgusted Green- 
apple. “ I thought it was a school rule. Well, 
then, perhaps you can tell me, Jackson, where 
I’ve offended that not a fellow speaks to me 
now? As I say, I don’t give a continental, but 
I’d like to know what I’ve done.” 


156 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Don^t you know? inquired Roger, with 
a searching look. 

If I did, I wouldn’t ask, would I? ” snapped 
Greenapple. 

Sure? ” persisted the captain. 

The hot blood rushed to Greenapple’s face. 
His fists clenched, and he took a half step 
forward. 

“ For two pins Fd knock your silly head off! ” 
he shouted. When I say a thing it’s so, darn 
you! ” 

It looked like a scene, but Roger Jackson had 
not risen to be Henley’s captain without show- 
ing true worth. He was completely master 
of himself, and because of that, he was captain 
of Henley, and master over many. There was 
no quicker man, or better man at his weight 
with the gloves in all Henley College than 
Roger Jackson. Henley had seen him extend 
.himself in the squared circle, and knew what 
he could do, but like all men of true power, 
he was slow to use it. The threat of the 
lad before him did not frighten him in the 
least. 

Greenapple,” he demanded quietly, and 
there was something in the way he spoke that 
caused his countryman to halt, “ Greenapple, 
why were you climbing up to your den that 
night the flagstaff went down, and then why did 


THE CAPTAIN AND HIS COUNTRYMAN 157 

you pretend to me that you did not know any- 
thing about it afterwards? ” 

Again Greenapple started to rush in, and 
again he halted. 

“You — you — spy — you sneaker! he 
hissed. 

“ Sit down,’’ ordered the captain grimly. 

“Go to blazes!” roared the other boy, 
making for the door. 

But Roger was there before him — there, 
with a leap and a bound. He snapped the 
lock, and wheeled about to face his prisoner. 

“ Now,” he continued very quietly, “ you’ll 
answer my question before you go. You under- 
stand? ” 


CHAPTER XIX 


AN INTERRUPTED FIGHT 

“There is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor 
Birth, 

When two strong men stand face to face, though they come 
from the ends of the earth.” 

The captain was calm — suspiciously calm. 
His face was very white, but there was an 
ominous glitter in his eyes. He stood with 
his back to the locked door facing the furious 
boy. The latter was like an enraged bull, 
hesitating to charge in. For the third time 
that evening he appeared to be meditating 
.an attack on the captain, and again he recon- 
sidered his decision. There came a tense silence. 
Then the captain broke it. 

Greenapple,^^ he said slowly, you and I 
must come to an understanding right here and 
now.^^ It was curious how all the captain’s 
veneer of Henley speech slipped off him when 
he became in deadly earnest. I want to 
be your friend, and I will if you will let me,” 


AN INTERRUPTED FIGHT 159 

he continued, ‘‘ but we must have an under- 
standing first; you must answer my question.^’ 
''Must, must,'' repeated Greenapple, with 
an ugly sneer. '' Who says ' must '? " 

I do," said Roger quietly. I'm cap- 
tain here, you know. You need a friend," 
he went on, and how can I be one to you, 
when I'm in the dark — when you are con- 
cealing something from me? " 

The concihatory tone was not lost on Green- 
apple. 

" Well," he said, " you ought to stand by me 
more than any one else here. How did you 
know I was out before you that night, and 
how did you know I used that rope? Did you 
see me, was that you tried to grab me? " 

" No," replied Roger, I didn't see you, and 
I was not sure it was you I tried to grab, but 
now I know it was. What were you doing 
there then? " 

" I suppose you think I cut my own flagstaff 
down," sneered Greenapple, " the flagstaff I 
paid for and gave to the college. What a darn- 
fool idea, Jackson. Why should I do that? " 
" That is for you to answer." 

" Do you think that? " persisted the other. 

" I'll tell you after you've explained your 
presence there that night." 

" Because, if you do, you're dead wrong. 


160 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


I didn't scratch the thing. I'll admit I was 
right mad over that flag-raising business, 
but that's as far as it went." 

Then why were you out that night before 
me, and why did you get back secretly, climbing 
up that way, and why did you try to lead me 
to suppose that you had not been out before? " 
still persisted Roger. 

Look here! " shouted Greenapple, his hot 
temper again rising under the captain's cross- 
examination, what do you think you are, 
anyway, the grand inquisitor? " 

I'm captain of Henley, and I've a right to 
ask you these questions." 

Captain of fiddlesticks! Right to nothing! 
Why, for two pins I'd bash you in the mouth 
and leave you stewing in your own juice." 

Pretty way of expressing yourself," calmly 
commented Roger. For a sixth form boy, 
and one of the fastest we have here in class- 
rooms, I should think you could find better 
language than that." 

“ Oh, you're roihng," was Greenapple's only 
retort, “ and because you're so darned roiling, 
and so darned cocksiu*e and smirky. I'll leave 
you to guess why I was out before you, and why 
I didn't choose to rush after you and tell you 
I was on the grounds before you. Now, go 
tell the doctor that! Go tell all the idiots 


AN INTERRUPTED FIGHT 


161 


here! Go do whatever you please, you miser- 
able, sneaking skunk of a — 

'' Better not — better not go too far,’' 
Roger interrupted, taking a quick step for- 
ward. I’m only human, you know. Green- 
apple, and I can’t stand for everything; don’t 
push me too close. If you would control your- 
self and not go off into those insane fits of 
passion, I think I might be able to help you; 
we might come to some understanding.” 

I don’t want to have an understanding 
with a sneak and a spy,” roared Greenapple. 
You — you — you renegade! ” 

That was the last straw. Roger had been 
holding himself in hand so far, only with a 
great effort. That last word broke down his 
resolve to keep his hands off Greenapple. 

Put your hands up,” he ordered curtly. 
I’m going to whip you. I’m going to use my 
captain’s prerogative for once on a sixth form 
boy.” 

Not another word was said. Greenapple came 
at the captain like a bull, head down, his great 
fists working like piston rods. There was fully 
fifteen or twenty pounds difference between the 
boys, but Roger was longer in the reach and 
stood three inches taller. He was also in the 
better condition. Fresh from his training, he 
was fit, and hard as nails. It is doubtful if 


162 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Greenapple, despite his great strength, would 
have come out victor in a long battle. His 
whirlwind tactics might have made it difficult 
for the Henley captain to have stood him off 
for the first few rounds, but if he could do that, 
the odds would then be in his favor. It was 
ordained, however, that the fight should never 
take place. At that opportune moment there 
came a well-known kick on the door, and 
Dobson’s lusty lungs demanded: 

Open the door, Yank; what have you got 
it locked for? I want to come in.” 

The two angered boys stopped. They stood 
glaring at each other. 

Another time, then,” the captain muttered. 

He turned the key, and Dobson blundered 
in. The newcomer glanced quickly from Green- 
apple’s crimson face to the captain’s white one, 
then, ignoring the new boy, he turned to his 
chum: 

' Hello, what’s the bally row? ” he demanded. 

Nothing,” denied the captain shortly. 

There’s the door, Greenapple; you’d better 
get out now; perhaps it’s just as well this 
way.” 

I’m going, and look here, Jackson, keep 
out of my way in the future; I’m through with 
you, but I’m not through with Henley. I’ll 
stay here — I’ll stay here until the year’s 



“ there’s the door, greenapple, you’d better get out now.” 

Page 162 . 


# • 


AN INTERRUPTED FIGHT 


163 


up — stay here in spite of every one of you 
prigs — stay here out of pure, darned cussed- 
ness; so there, put that in your pipes and smoke 

He was gone, with a terrific bang of the door, 
and Roger and Dobson stood facing one 
another. 

The beast! ejaculated the cap taints chum. 

He is a cad. What was that scene about, 
Yank? I could hear him shouting all the way 
down the corridor, and to tell you the truth, 
that’s why I butted in. I was — was afraid, 
old man, he might damage you; he’s half crazy, 
I believe.” 

Greenapple came in here to see why Hanks 
would not fag for him,” explained the captain, 

and he can’t understand being sent to Coven- 
try, and I was explaining it to him; he didn’t 
take to it kindly.” 

“Was that all? ” demanded Dobson. 

“ That’s all I care to mention just now, old 
man; let me off further details now.” 


CHAPTER XX 


GREENAPPLE INTERVIEWS THE DOCTOR 

That scene in the captain^s den could not 
remain a secret. Passing boys had heard the 
angry words; in fact, Dobson had pushed his 
way through quite a little knot of them when 
he kicked on the door. It was all over the 
school before nightfall. It nailed more defi- 
nitely yet the truth of the statement that 
Greenapple had a hand in the felling of the 
flagstaff, and Henley was all agog with excite- 
ment and rumors. 

If Greenapple had confessed to Jackson, or 
if Jackson had obtained a confession from him, 
then, of course, there could be only one out- 
come to the matter. The captain would have 
to inform the school authorities, and it fol- 
lowed that the new American would be ex- 
pelled. Henley had it all worked out in its 
fevered mind, and in the meantime it waited 
with what patience it could for some word 
or move from the captain. Undoubtedly he 
would first call a meeting of the house captains. 


GREENAPPLE INTERVIEWS THE DOCTOR 165 

and then the thing would be sent up to Doctor 
Proctor for his action. There could be but 
one outcome. Greenapple would have to go, 
and good riddance,’^ chuckled all Henley. 

Meanwhile, after Greenapple’s departure, 
Roger, after some consideration, took Dobson 
into his confidence. He told him exactly what 
had occurred; of his suspicions, of what he 
had seen, and of Greenapple^ s actions. 

Well, youTl have to get the captains to- 
gether and tell them,^^ summarized Dobson. 

The captain was thoughtful. 

Yes,’^ he admitted presently, I must 
place this before the house captains, and I 
must tell them just what I know. I must do 
that. I can see no other course.” 

Matters moved with startling swiftness, 
however, and before the captains’ meeting, 
Henley received another shock. In less than 
an hour after the scene in the captain’s study, 
it was common rumor that Greenapple had 
taken the bull by the horns and cut the knot 
himself. Ignoring, as he always had done, 
all Henley precedents, he had gone straight 
to Doctor Proctor. It was a complete confes- 
sion, so rumor said, but, as a matter of fact, 
it was nothing of the kind. 

After leaving Roger, Greenapple went to 
his den, and there brooded over his troubles 


166 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

for forty-five minutes, then, with a smothered 
exclamation of wrath, he leaped to his feet, 
and ploughed his way through a curious, 
staring group of boys, straight to the Head of 
Henley. A dozen boys had seen him enter 
Doctor Proctor’s sanctum, and of course the 
news spread, so that when he came out three- 
quarters of an hour later, fully a hundred lads 
were craning their necks from various points 
of vantage. 

“ Are you busy? ” Greenapple had grunted, 
as he blundered, without knocking, into Doc- 
tor Proctor’s study. 

“Yes, sv', I am busy,” the doctor acknowl- 
edged, laying special stress on the “ sir,” that 
the boy had omitted in addressing him, “ but, 
if you wdsh to ask me anything of importance, 
I will stop and listen. I am never so busy 
but that I can listen to anything one of my 
boys may wish to say to me. What is it, 
' Greenapple? ” 

“ It’s about that flagstaff. Those fellows 
all think I cut it down, and they’re cutting me 
because of that. I don’t want their company 
particularly, but I’ve just had a talk with 
Jackson, and from what he said, I think he’s 
coming to you to tell you, so I thought I had 
better come first and lay my case before you.” 

“It is usual, Greenapple, for the boys in 


GREENAPPLE INTERVIEWS THE DOCTOR 167 

this college to say, ‘ sir,^ when addressing me. 
I wish you to follow this custom, please,’’ 
observed Doctor Proctor. 

All right, sir,” agreed the boy, but sourly 
enough. 

There was a pause. 

“ I judge you wish to make a statement, 
then, in which the captain is concerned; shall 
I send for him? ” inquired the doctor. 

I don’t mind; just as you like, sir, but I 
think you’ll get it quicker if you let me tell it 
my own way. There’s nothing against Jackson 
in it, so he won’t have to defend himself. 
Shall I go on now? ” 

Again there was a pause, while the old doctor 
considered. Then he said : 

Proceed now, Greenapple.” 

Well,” the boy went on, thrusting his hands 
into his pockets, and seating himself unbidden, 

on the night the flagstaff went down — ” 

The first or second time? ” interrupted 
the doctor. 

Second. On the second time it came down, 
Jackson saw me returning as he came out, and 
he thinks from that that I went out and hacked 
it down, so I judge, from what he said to me. 
Now, I’d like to tell you the whole thing straight, 
and then if you want to, you can send for Jack- 
son and see if his story agrees with mine, for 


168 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


I suppose I must be considered as being under 
suspicion, as the police say.’^ 

Go on, sir,’’ suggested the doctor. 

Well, it must have been about half-past 
twelve or a quarter to one when I was just 
turning in, and I heard a scraping sound — 
kind of a sawing noise — and I looked out 
across the square, but it was so dark I couldn’t 
see anything. It stopped awhile, and I took 
off my clothes, thinking it wasn’t worth both- 
ering about, and intending to go to bed, when 
it started up again. I didn’t look out this time, 
for that had seemed to stop the noise before; 
instead, I put out the light and waited, listen- 
ing for three or four minutes.” 

“ That would bring the time very close to 
one o’clock, sir? ” again suggested the doctor. 

About that, I guess. Then I thought I’d 
take a look out and find just what was going 
on, so I went down into the lower hall, but the 
• door was locked, and I didn’t care about rous- 
ing up the old chap there.” 

“ The night porter, sir? ” 

Yes, the night porter; so I went back again 
and took the rope off my Saratoga — ” 

'' Your box; your trunk? ” inquired the 
doctor. 

Yes; and I fastened one end to the hook 
inside the window of my room, and let the 


GREENAPPLE INTERVIEWS THE DOCTOR 169 


other fall down. Then I went down hand over 
hand and reached the ground. The noise still 
continued, and I crawled around by the fives 
shed, and made for the center, where the racket 
seemed to come from.’^ 

You judged that it came from there solely 
by your ears; the sound appeared to you to 
come from there, sir? asked the doctor. 

“ Yes; and as I got nearer, I heard voices. 
They — whoever they were — were speaking 
in whispers, and I couldnT hear what they 
were saying, but they seemed to become excited, 
for as I crawled in, I heard one voice say: ^ Look 
hout; it’s almost goinV putting on the H, as 
they do down here, you know; and then the 
next thing, almost before I could realize it, there 
came a tremendous row — a cracking and tear- 
ing and snapping, and — well, it was rather 
scary, I tell you, and — well, I’m sorry I did 
now, but it was the instinct of self-preserva- 
tion, I suppose, but it was rather yellow — ” 

Rather whatj sir? ” exclaimed the doctor, 
still insisting on supplying the missing sirs ” 
himself. 

Rather yellow — that is, it looked as if I 
was a quitter; but, well, anyway, I bolted, and 
ran for my room. There was a terrific noise 
all around, and I grabbed the rope, and swung 
myself up as fast as I could.” 


170 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


You returned to your room, sir? 

“ Yes, I returned to my room, and just as 
I was making for it, some chap, who it now 
appears was this Jackson, came dashing out 
from the door, and called to me, but I didn’t 
stop. I got back as quickly as I could. I 
felt him try to grab the rope, but I yanked 
it out of his grasp and shut the window 
down.” 

Why did you do this? Why did you not 
stop when he called to you? ” 

Well, fact was, sir,” admitted Greenapple, 
using the sir ” for the first time, “ I was 
rather rattled.” 

“ Rattled? Rattled? ” repeated the doctor, 
helplessly. Pray, what is that condition, 
Greenapple? ” 

Rattled — why, it’s confused,” explained 
the narrator, calmly. Don’t you know that 
word? ” 

'' No, I have not heard it before,” admitted 
Doctor Proctor. 

It’s a good word; it expresses just what I 
mean,” Greenapple commented. 

He stopped. 

Is that all? ” inquired the doctor. 

“ Yes — No,” the boy corrected himself. 

“ I thought the thing over after I got up- 
stairs, and I saw just how it would look to the 


GREENAPPLE INTERVIEWS THE DOCTOR 171 


fellows, here, and — well, here again I^m sorry 
I acted as I did; it was bad judgment, I guess, 
but I lost my nerve a bit.’^ 

Lost your nerve, pondered Doctor Proc- 
tor, thinking that it was an apparent impos- 
sibility for the boy before him. Well, go on, 
Greenapple.^’ 

“ Well, I suppose I stayed there twenty 
minutes or more, and then I heard the fellows 
coming back from looking around, and I came 
out and met Jackson face to face; it was almost 
light, then, and I asked him what the trouble 
was. 

Why did you ask that when you knew? ” 
Why, because I wanted him to think I 
didn’t,’^ rasped Greenapple. I told you I 
was rattled. I thought the fools — ■ 

What fools? ’’ 

I mean the chaps — the boys.^^ 

“ Then call them by that name, please, 
sir.’^ 

Greenapple glared at the doctor, and then 
resumed : 

I thought they’d put the job up on me; 
they’re sore on me, anyway — ■ ” 

Are sore on you. By that, you mean just 
what? ” 

You don’t seem to understand United 
States,” complained Greenapple. 


172 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Please do not comment, but explain, sir/^ 

I mean they are down on me over that flag 
business. I see I made a mistake in judgment 
now. I should not have run in the first place; 
I should have tried to find out who was there, 
and have stopped the scraping racket, but 
when you feel something coming down over your 
head, and don’t know what it is, the first natural 
impulse is to bolt, and that’s what I did. I’m 
sorry now, for it looks yellow. That’s all there 
is.” 

Then, sir, you have no knowledge as to 
who cut the pole down? ” inquired the doctor, 
looking the boy straight in the eyes. Henley’s 
chief was a good judge of boys. 

No,” said Greenapple, I haven’t; not 
the slightest. I wish I had; I’d go for him. 
I’ve told you all I know — everything. Do you 
believe me? ” 

He shot the last question straight out, as 
a challenge, and in his turn, looked Doctor 
Proctor straight in the eyes. 

For a moment or so the principal and scholar 
stood facing one another. Then Doctor Proc- 
tor said quietly: 

Greenapple, I believe you. When you go, 
send the captain to me.” 

The boy was on the point of telling Henley’s 
chief to send for the captain himself, but some- 


GREENAPPLE INTERVIEWS THE DOCTOR 173 


how that friendly, trustful look of confidence 
Doctor Proctor gave him, altered his deter- 
mination. 

Very well, sir,” he acquiesced, and left 
the room. 


CHAPTER XXI 


THE captain’s TURN 

A liiTTLE later the captain stood in the doc- 
tor’s presence, and stated what he knew. His 
story coincided exactly with the one Greenapple 
had related. 

I am rather surprised, Jackson, that you 
did not come to me, or to Mr. Murray, and state 
this in the first place,” remarked Doctor 
Proctor. 

I wished first to satisfy myself on every- 
thing, sir. I will be quite frank, and say that 
Greenapple had my sympathies; I hoped he had 
nothing to do with this affair, and it was not 
until he refused to answer my questions, that 
I determined to tell the captains, and then come 
to you. I wanted to believe in Greenapple.” 

I do believe in him,” Doctor Proctor 
affirmed. 

Yes, sir? ” half questioned Roger, his fea- 
tures breaking into a smile. He has satis- 
fied you, then; you think he had nothing to do 
with this chopping down of the pole? ” 

I am convinced of it, Jackson. Moreover, 


THE CAPTAIN’S TURN 


175 


so are the local police, who, as you know, have 
been called in,” 

I am glad,'^ Roger said. But why, sir, 
did he act as he did? Why did he try to de- 
ceive me over it? ” 

Then the doctor went over Greenapple^s 
story and gave his defense. And, really, 
Jackson, really now, it has a most plausible 
ring to me. I am convinced in my own mind, 
perfectly convinced, that the boy is entirely 
innocent. My opinion, and that of the police, 
is that the miscreant, whoever he may be, 
came from outside Henley, and you may be 
sure I am very much relieved, and only too 
glad to accept that behef.’^ 

Have the police any clue to this man — • 
this some one outside, sir? ” 

The doctor shook his head. 

I am afraid we have nothing very definite 
yet, Jackson.’^ 

The fellows are wild to hear; there^s a 
perfect mob of them hanging about now, sir; 
they think Greenapple has confessed,’^ the 
captain informed his chief. 

They will be surprised and gratified to 
hear, then, that I harbor no suspicion against 
the boy. By the way, Jackson, Greenapple 
is far from popular, of course? 

No, sir, he is not popular.’^ 


176 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


That unfortunate flag-raising affair, of 
course, made him dishked by the lads? 

Yes, sir, that capped it all, but he was not 
a favorite before that. His ways are different 
to Henley’s, you know, sir, and although I 
think at heart he is very decent, — that is, 
he’s all right, you know, sir — still it will be 
a long time, I’m afraid, before he will get on 
with our fellows.” 

I am sorry to hear you say that, Jackson. 
I hope, I wish, in fact, I would like you to exert 
all your influence to make his path easier for 
him. The lad is brilliant — very brilliant; 
he has — er — the making of a magnificent 
scholar in him; one of whom Henley may be 
proud. I would like, yes, I would prefer that 
he stay here. It would be to the credit of the 
college, I’m sure, to place such a boy as Green- 
apple at the universities, and I have great hopes 
that before his year at Henley has expired 
he may have — er — er — toned down, so to 
speak — you understand my meaning — my 
exact meaning, Jackson? ” 

“ Yes, sir, I think I do. You mean his bad 
temper and all that.” 

To a great extent I do, and also other — 
other faults — other faihngs. It would per- 
haps be more charitable to call them misfor- 
tunes.” 


THE CAPTAIN’S TURN 


177 


Yes, sir,’’ the captain agreed, nodding, 
I think I understand. Of course, he is most 
beastly well off — that is, he has lots of cash 
and quite different ways to ours.” 

Quite so, quite so; well, Jackson, help 
him along as best you can. I am convinced 
that eventually he will be a credit to the old 
school. He is most brilliant, most brilliant. 
He has astonished me on more than one oc- 
casion.” 

It’s going to be a job, sir, to make the 
fellows believe he hasn’t done this cutting down 
of the pole.” 

Well, well, everything will work out for 
the best, I am sure. Do your best, Jackson; 
do your best. Good afternoon.’ ’ 

Good afternoon, sir.” 

Oh, one moment, Jackson.” 

“ Yes, sir? ” 

Greenapple, you know, goes to Oxford 
next week with the examination contingent, 
and — er — of course, Jackson, a boy, in order 
to be at his best, must be free from all harass- 
ing doubts or disturbing thoughts. This ap- 
plies to you all. I wish you to forget as far 
as you possibly can, this unfortunate affair, 
and try — er — try — er — endeavor to erase the 
matter from the mind of your compatriot. 
Will you? ” 


178 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

I will, sir. Is that all? 

That is all, Jackson. Good evening.’^ 

Good evening, sir.^^ 

It took the school a long time to grasp the 
fact that their principal had held Greenapple 
innocent. The house captains were incredu- 
lous, when Roger explained this to them. 

It looks fishy; altogether too fishy. I 
should say he’d done it,” commented Guiting. 

No,” the captain contradicted. I thought 
so myself at first, Guiting, and I was worried 
about it, but now, come to think about it, his 
explanation is quite believable, eh. Dob? ” 
Dobson nodded mutely, and his features 
puckered up into a frown. He was wishing 
Greenapple was at the bottom of the deep blue 
sea. 

Well, then, it comes to this. That we’re no 
nearer finding out about it than before. I 
thought we had put it on this Crabapple fellow,” 
summarized Wallace. 

That’s about what it comes to,” the cap- 
tain admitted, and I’m glad, Wallace, very 
glad; I hated to believe Greenapple had done 
it, and I’m jolly glad it now looks as if he 
hadn’t.” 

Well, who did do it, then? ” demanded 
Powell. Some one did it. Who? '\l\Tio had 
an incentive to do it? I thought this Crab had 


THE CAPTAIN’S TURN 


179 


done it because he was so sore, but if he didn^t, 
who, in thunder, did? 

“ That^s what we must try to find out, but 
I’m feeling fine that Greenapple didn’t. Come 
on. Dob, and let’s get back to that everlasting 
grind.” 

The meeting of the captains broke up, and 
the news spread over the school like wildfire. 
They had not held Greenapple. 

Well, how about this Coventry business? ” 
demanded Dobson, as he and the captain 
seated themselves in the latter’s den. 

The chaps will have to let up on it.” 

But they won’t.” 

Well, I shall treat him the same as ever. 
It’s only right. Dob. Old Proct. told me he 
wanted the chaps to make it livable for Green- 
apple. He wants him to stay here; he says he’s 
too brilliant a chap for Henley to let slide. He 
wants him to show up for the old school, so 
you and I must try, eh? ” 

Humph,” growled Dobson. I suppose 
so, but I do so detest the fellow. I wish he’d 
go, confound him.” 


CHAPTER XXir 


OXFORD 

Next Monday morning the Henley squad 
was sent off to Oxford with musical honors. 
The school, en massey escorted the thirty boys 
to the Hamenchelt station. There would have 
been thirty-one, but Greenapple preferred to 
motor it, and left The Bull an hour earlier. 
If Henley wanted little to do with Greenapple, 
Greenapple was not less ready to forget Henley. 

No, thanks, I^m in good company when I’m 
with myself,” he repeated, with a growl, when 
the captain, after patching up the peace be- 
tween them, had suggested that he come with 
the rest of the squad. 

. Look,” pointed out Dobson, as they were 
taking their places in their reserved compart- 
ment, look, there’s that scamp, Dutton; he’s 
always hanging around where any Henley 
fellows are.” 

I guess his billiard ‘ parlor ’ wouldn’t 
get along very flourishingly without some of the 
Henley set; I’ve dragged two fellows out in 


OXFORD 


181 


the last week, and the spotters sent in a report 
of seven more caught there at different times. 
They were all first offenders, so I didn’t send 
them up to Murray, but just crimped them and 
gave lines. He’s a curse to Henley, is that 
chap. You remember when Max got into 
his clutches, and then those two young fools, 
Berry and Tucker — how he pulled their legs.” 

Say, wouldn’t Crabapple be a find for him; 
Dutton hasn’t much use for a chap unless he 
has plenty of money to lose, anyway.” 

I think Greenapple’s too wide awake to 
be drawn into his net,” said Roger. Say, 
look at the fellow now, trying to shake hands 
with Bradbury, the cad; like his nerve. Good, 
Brad cut him dead.” 

“ The beast looks more beery and leery than 
ever,” Dobson growled. 

He’s not content with beer and leers; he 
pickles his insides with spirits and then resorts 
to tricks to get the cash out of our fellows.” 

The object of the boy’s disgust was a fellow 
named Dutton, a big, blotchy-faced man, the 
proprietor of one of the Hamenchelt shady re- 
sorts, a place where beer, billiards and skittles 
reigned supreme, and to which some of the 
boys with less character than they should have, 
were sometimes drawn. His resort was out 
of bounds,” but despite this, Henley boys 


182 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


were sometimes discovered there by the pre- 
fects — spotters, as the boys called them — and 
then sure punishment followed. 

Oh, forget Dutton; forget everything but 
this exam,’^ counseled Dobson, as the train 
drew out. 

Say, funny idea this, running the corridor 
down the side of the coach, instead of the cen- 
ter,’^ commented Roger, as he took in his 
surroundings. 

Rather like it,^’ Dobson commended. It 
has the advantages of your carriages in the 
States, and yet keeps the privacy of our old 
single compartments.’^ 

It took only an hour to run to Oxford, and 
there the Henley boys put up ” at The Club 
Hotel y a quiet, semi-private hostelry; for as 
the Oxford Senior extended over the best part 
of three days, it was necessary they should 
have headquarters where they could be quiet 
and able to study during the test. They were 
in charge of no one but themselves, for Henley 
was a school where a lot was left to a boy’s 
honor. 

We can afford to almost break ourselves 
over this test, Yank,” Dobson said, for there’ll 
be no more work to speak of after this, thank 
goodness.” 

Old Oxford was alive with the colors of a 


OXFORD 


183 


score of British public schools, and hundreds 
of privately coached contestants crowded the 
streets on their way to or from the rooms. This 
was not the first visit of either Roger or Dobson 
to the great university city; they had been there 
a year before, when they passed the younger 
brother of the present test — the Oxford 
Junior. 

On the second day of the examination the 
boys had a chance to witness one of the famous 
bumpings.^’ They had just emerged from 
the rooms of Christ Church College, busily 
comparing notes as to how they had fared, 
when a motley mob swept past them, river- 
ward, the river instinct was too strong in the 
two Henley boys to permit them to pass by 
the great event. 

Believe it would be a bully good thing for 
us to trot along with the crowd, opined Dobson, 
glancing at his chum. 

Wonder if we can spare the time? mused 
the captain. 

Sure,’^ assured Dobson, come along, old 
man. It will do us good; clear our brains out 
for to-morrow. 

Ten minutes later, the boys, in company with 
a dozen other Henley enthusiasts, were wait- 
ing in short trunks, in company with a mob of 
university undergraduates and seniors, on the 


184 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


tow-path, as the seventeen boats, stretched 
out in endless procession one behind the other, 
hove in sight. A moment later they had started 
on the accompanying run. 

This “ bumping ” is one of the hoary tra- 
ditions of the great universities. It determines 
which college shall be head of the river for 
the year. 

Here comes Balliol! ’’ yelled Dobson, as 
the blue and white flag of the college showed to 
the fore around the bend. 

“Balliol! Balliol!’^ the shouts went up 
all around them. “ Oh, a bump! Well bumped, 
sir! Well bumped! and the leading shell 
swung wide, and obediently made for the bank, 
the blood-red ensign of Oriel following the van- 
quished, leaving the Christ Church shell in 
the lead. 

The Henley boys raced off with the rest of 
the half-crazed runners, and tore along the 
path, in a mad, yelling, jumbling crowd, while 
another yell of: “ Exeter! Exeter! Bumped, 
sir, well bumped! announced that Christ 
Church had in turn been bumped by Exeter, 
and bankward headed the captured crew, fol- 
lowed by their captors, while Pembroke, hotly 
pursued by Merton, assumed the lead. 

It is a unique, a hair-raising event, this 
bumping. The shells of the different colleges 


OXFORD 


185 


which compose the university are started in 
the order they finished the last year's rowing 
season, the fastest crews of the previous year 
being at the fore, the laggards forming the 
tail. 

The game is this. You must bump " the 
rudder of the shell in front of you. If you suc- 
ceed in this, you pull for the bank in company 
with your captured crew, while the shell in 
your rear assumes the lead. In next day’s 
races the positions are reversed — you have 
gained one boat in the long struggle. The shell 
that finally finishes to the front after the bump- 
ing days is head of the river. From these crews 
come the eight that represent the university 
on the Thames against the old rival, Cambridge, 
next spring. 

Words cannot describe the tremendous ex- 
citement of this bumping. It is fierce enough 
when two or three crews are engaged in a race, 
but when the uncertainty is extended to a 
score of racing shells all desperately engaged 
in a mighty effort to ram the mdder of the 
boat in front of them, the nerve-racking ten- 
sion must be imagined, rather than described. 

It was the first bumping Roger had ever 
witnessed, and it called loudly to his river 
enthusiasm. At the finish he found himself 
as madly excited as any of the hundreds of 


186 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


frenzied undergraduates. Then he stopped, 
and gazed foolishly at the breathless, panting 
Dobson, as his chum raced up to him. 

Which won. Dob? he demanded, suddenly 
realizing that he did not know the colors of 
the various colleges. 

Three bumps, panted Dobson, almost 
speechless. WasnT that — that — a rattling 
fine — pull? he gasped. “ I got caught in — 
in the jam — and couldnT get through. You 
sailed away from me.^^ 

I wanted to see the finish. That next 
shell nearly had ’em at the line by the barges; 
only three yards behind. Another hundred 
yards and they’d have thumped them.” 

Bumped them,” corrected Dobson. 

“Rattling! Fine! ” Roger went on. Num- 
ber three shirked his work in the second shell, 
or they’d have got ’em. By jinks, old man, I 
wish our school sh^ll had been there; I believe 
we’d have taken a hand in that dumping — ” 

“ Bumping,” Dobson again corrected. 

“ Yes, bumping; that’s what I said.” 

“ No, you didn’t. You called it first thump- 
ing and then dumping.” 

“ Oh, you’re dreaming, Dob; the race has 
you rattled. We had better be getting back and 
doing some grinding. There’s to-morrow, you 
know.” 


OXFORD 


187 


Sufficient unto the day, etc.,^^ quoted 
Dobson. 

Quite sufficient to-day, eh, old man? ” 

Bet your life. I went up in the air several 
times. How about you, Yank? 

Stumped four times, and hard pressed for 
time all the time.^^ 

That was my great trouble,’’ complained 
Dobson, the time limit was altogether too 
short. I was crowded awfully; could have done 
a lot better if I hadn’t been pushed so. Look, 
there goes that Greenapple; wonder how he 
got along.” 

Greenapple, by himself, as usual, came sailing 
along the High Street, in which thoroughfare 
the boys now were. He was looking neither to 
right nor left, but headed straight for his hotel. 
He passed the Henleyites with a curt nod, and 
disappeared in the lobby. 

He certainly is a rummy beggar,” com- 
mented Dobson, but I’ll bet he gets through 
with flying colors.” 

Oh, he’s smart as they make ’em. Murray 
did his best to stump him last day at Henley. 
Tried all kinds of unusual questions. What 
were the characteristics and what was the 
personal appearance of Darius? Ever hear 
such a stickler? But, bless you, it was no 
good. Greenapple played all balls alike ; seemed 


188 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


just like eating to him. I tell you, Murray was 
tickled. He has great expectations of Green- 
apple — first in all England, or something of 
that kind. He’ll pass in the honor fist, an3nvay.” 

Personal appearance of Darius,” growled 
Dobson. Whoever heard of that sort of a 
question. How does any one know? ” 

Well, Greenapple did, anyway. I believe 
Murray only asked it just to see him beaten 
once, but not Greenapple. ^ Five feet, nine 
inches, black-bearded and swarthy; hthe but 
strongly built; small hands and feet,’ he rasped 
in that cutting tone of his. ^ Who is your 
authority? ’ asked Mr. Murray. ^ Abbott,’ 
said Green, and then with just the nearest kind 
of a thing to a grin, ^ and Gustave Dor^.’ 
^ Hum,’ commented Mr. Murray, and then he 
tried him on some minor things hke ^ How 
many confederates supported Darius in his 
advocacy of the monarchy? ’ But old Green- 
apple was right there with the goods. ^ Seven, 
if you count the horse and himself,’ he told 
Murray, and Murray gave a laugh, and said: 
^ Oh, I suppose we must include the horse, 
Greenapple, since he would not have obtained 
his kingdom without him,’ and then he dropped 
Green, and went on to the next chap, and Green 
took out his penknife and began to whittle, till 
Murray turned and asked him if he was not 


OXFORD 


189 


mistaking the classroom for a carpenter’s 
shop. Oh, I tell you, Dob, Apple’s about as 
smart as they make ’em. You can’t stump 
him.” 

Fact, I know,” admitted Dobson, but 
I’m glad there aren’t many of his kind about; 
too sour a variety.” 


CHAPTER XXIII 


THE OXFORD RESULTS, AND A STRANGE 
DEVELOPMENT 

There was a cessation of work for the senior 
classes after their return from Oxford, but the 
juniors were still hard at it, in preparation for 
the term-end tests. After these came the Easter 
holiday of three weeks, toward which all eyes 
were now longingly directed. Easter had come 
unusually late this year, and the wait had ap- 
peared interminable. 

Roger, following a precedent established at 
the time of his first vacation at Henley, would 
go to Hatherly Court, Dobson’s home in North 
Wales, and under that hospitable roof a good 
time was always to be counted on, while out- 
doors, on every side of them, stretched the 
magnificent, wild, Welsh scenery, with its 
mountains and rushing streams. This Easter 
holiday they were looking forward to the event 
with more than ordinary interest, for old 
Captain Dobbs, their seaman friend, was sail- 
ing aboard his brig, Kate II, from Gloucester 
to Birkenhead, which was only about fifty 
miles from Dobson’s home, so the captain had 


THE OXFORD RESULTS 


191 


suggested that the boys take passage with him, 
instead of going by rail. Nothing could have 
pleased Roger and his chum better, and Sir 
Henry Dobson readily fell in with the arrange- 
ment. 

I sails ’leven ^clock forenoon Saturday, 
an^ with a fair wind. I’ll be off Nash’s Point 
by midnight,” announced the old tar. You’d 
best come o’er from school as soon a’ter break- 
fast as yer can. ’Twill take ye half an hour 
ter make Gloucester, and the Kate’ll be lying 
in berth F, number 2 dock. I’m a-loadin’ 
with Cotswold sheep an’ a-comin’ back with 
Carnarvon slate. ’Tis the first time fur two 
years as I’ve quit the Bristol Channel route, 
but better rates is offered me fur the St. George’s 
passage, so I be a-experimenting.” 

Are they live sheep you are taking, cap- 
tain? ” inquired Dobson. 

Aye, young master, ^ on the trotter ’ — 
that’s wot the invoice says, an’ I’ve had special 
contrivances fixed up fur ’em, so if we nms 
inter a blow they won’t hurt nothin’.” 

All right, captain; we’ll be over in time, and 
it’s jolly nice of you to invite us.” 

’Tis me as is pleased ter have yer; I’ve a 
nice, handy-like little cabin, with three berths 
in’t, so ye can bring ’nother o’ yer mates ’long 
with yer, if ye wants ter.” 


192 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

No, there’s only Yank and me, and we’ll 
be on time. Good day, captain.” 

Three days before the break-up, ithe result 
of the Oxford examination was received, and 
the school got a shock. Old Doctor Proctor, 
for once, had his conservatism shaken out of 
him, and instead of making the bare announce- 
ment, and referring the boys to the bulletin, 
he said: 

Gentlemen, Henley has achieved an un- 
usual honor in the results of the examination 
at Oxford. Not only have twenty-three out 
of the thirty-one entered, passed, but Henley 
shares with Charterhouse College the position 
of premier honors. A Henley boy has tied with 
one from our sister college for first honors in 
all England.” 

The doctor paused, but only for a second. 
The announcement at first almost stunned the 
school, but quickly recovering itself, Henley 
went wild. As soon as order was restored, the 
• query ran like wildfire: Who? ” Taking it 
for granted it was Dauncy or their captain, the 
junior school commenced to cheer for them. 
“ Dauncy! Jackson! Dauncy! ” a scattering 
cry ran, but the doctor shook his head. 

Augustus Dauncy and your captain have 
both done remarkably well; very well, indeed,” 
he said; “ they have finished tenth and eleventh 


THE OXFORD RESULTS 


193 


respectively on the all-England list, and second 
and third on the school awards, but the honor 
— the most distinguished honor — of sharing 
the premier position with the Charterhouse boy 
has fallen to Solomon Greenapple, the captain’s 
countryman.” 

A deathly silence fell, as the doctor pro- 
nounced the name. Then a few feeble cheers 
burst out. The announcement was rather a 
disappointment to the school, after the first 
statement; Greenapple was a person non grains 
at Henley. The doctor had not looked for any 
great outburst of enthusiasm; he knew well 
the condition of affairs, but he was very much 
pleased that a Henley boy should have made 
such an exceptional record. 

On the bulletin board in the hall you will 
find the full list of those passing and the marks 
awarded them,” he promised cheerfully. You 
are dismissed, young gentlemen.” 

The boys soon swarmed around the announce- 
ment, those within reading distance shouting 
back the results. 

Crabapple first — 98.78!” the shout was 
carried from lad to lad, but there was little or 
no cheering. “ Dauncy next, 92.56 — good 
oldDaunce! The sldpper next; ’rah for Jackson! 
92.15. Old Cossock seventh — steady old 
plugger! Bradbury fifteenth! Dobson ninth. 


194 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Wallace ties him. Guiting lost out! Guiting 
beaten; missed it by seven — too bad! ” 

So the results were shouted about, and all 
Henley was agog with excitement. 

As Roger turned about, he discovered himself 
standing face to face with Greenapple, who had 
pushed his way forward to make out the figures. 

Well done, Greenapple, shake; I congratu- 
late you,’^ the captain greeted frankly. 

Thanks, muttered the successful boy, in 
his ungracious manner; rather fancy the 
chaps don’t like my showing, though.” 

“ Oh, I don’t know,” rejoined Roger. You 
mustn’t expect Henley to go wild over every- 
thing. It really was a great sho^ving, Green, 
and it’s the first time the college ever got a 
first man in. You’re a wonder, all right.” 

Nonsense,” retorted the other. The 
questions were dead easy. You did well, too, 
Jackson.” 

Fair. I’m not a genius. Wish I was.” 

The two parted, Roger making his way to- 
wards his den. He stopped at the mail rack, 
and to his dehght discovered an Indian letter 
from his father. Tucking it in his pocket, he 
hurried on, intending to enjoy its reading alone, 
but Dobson’s lusty hail stopped him. 

Hold hard, Yank, you beggar,” he shouted, 
coming up with the captain, and nearly knock- 


THE OXFORD RESULTS 


195 


ing him off his feet with a resounding whack 
on the back. “Go on in/’ he insisted, as 
Roger halted at the doorway. “ That’s it; 
close the shutter,” and a tricky back-kick sent 
the door to with a slam. “ Say, wasn’t that a 
surprise package about Greenapple’s showing? ” 
he continued. 

“ Did better than I ever imagined any Henley 
fellow could,” admitted Roger. 

“ Well, I should say so, and you, too, Yank, 
and Dauncy. Surprised even at myself. What 
have you got there, a letter from your governor? 
I’ve one from mine, too. Go ahead; we’ll 
read them and talk afterwards.” 

There came a brief silence while the two boys 
perused their letters, then Roger suddenly 
ejaculated, “Great Scott!” and a moment 
later Dobson groaned, “ Well, I’ll be hanged! ” 
Each glanced at the other simultaneously, and 
then with one breath they demanded, “ What’s 
up? ” 

“ Why,” Dobson gasped, “ there’s my gov- 
ernor writing that I am to invite Greenapple 
home for the Easter holidays. He says your 
governor has written him — written my gov- 
ernor, you know — and he thinks it will please 
your governor — my governor thinks it w^ill 
please your governor if I invite him, and — ” 

“ Well,” interrupted Roger, unable to re- 


196 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


strain himself any longer, that's what my 
father says — at least something hke it. He 
knows Greenapple's governor — he's a partner 
in father's firm, and he says he has written to 
your father and — but go on, Dob — what 
does your father say? Read it, and then I'll 
read you mine." 

Dobson smoothed out the sheets he had 
crumpled up in his excitement, and omitting 
the introductory part of the epistle, read at 
a furious pace: 

Mr. Jackson has written me from Calcutta 
regarding a schoolmate of yours, Solomon 
Greenapple — odd name, isn't it. Tommy? 
It appears this lad is the son of one of Mr. 
Jackson's partners, and that he has few 
friends in England. I think it would be a nice 
compliment both to Mr. Jackson and Roger 
if you invited their countryman to spend 
the Easter holidays at Hatherly Court with 
you — " 

' “ Oh, beautiful one," sarcastically com- 
mented Roger. 

Dobson gave a snort of indignation, and con- 
tinued reading: ''But as Mr. Jackson writes 
that this boy is of rather a sensitive and re- 
tiring nature " (Roger gave vent to a 
prolonged "Phew!") I thought perhaps he 
would feel easier and more inclined to accept 


THE OXFORD RESULTS 


197 


if I sent an invitation to back up yours, so to 
speak, Tommy, and I have enclosed it with 
this. You know I always get along well with 
our kinsmen from the States, and as I say, I 
think it will be a nice compliment to Mr. 
Jackson, for whom I entertain the kindliest 
feehngs of friendship, and — 

Confound it, that’s all my father’s fault,” 
burst out Roger, with considerable warmth. 

He has evidently half suggested the idea to 
your Dad; he as good as says so in my letter,” 
and Roger flourished his epistle. Oh, Dob, 
what have we done that we should have this 
chap shoved on us? ” he appealed to his chum. 

Search me,” growled Dobson, stalking 
moodily about the room, hands deep in pockets. 

Here’s the invitation, though,” and he flung 
an unsealed envelope upon the table. It was 
addressed, Solomon Greenapple, Esq.,” and 
in the lower, left-hand corner, Through 
Thomas Dobson.” 

Well, of course, we can’t back out; you’ve 
got to invite him now, but perhaps he won’t 
accept,” suggested Roger hopefully. 

Maybe he won’t; I shouldn’t think he 
would,” Dobson agreed cheerfully. 

A long pause ensued, both boys moodily 
considering, and at that psychological moment 
Fate stepped in and took charge of matters. 


198 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Hello, Jackson, you there? grated a 
well-known voice, and without waiting for an 
invitation, Greenapple kicked open the door 
and entered. The boys wheeled about and 
stared at him. What’s the trouble? ” he 
growled. You both look as if you were hatch- 
ing up a conspiracy.” Then, without waiting 
for a reply, he went on: Jackson, I’ve just 
been to Murray and asked him for my exam 
markings in detail, and he said it was the cap- 
tain’s duty to furnish me with them. Have 
you got them? If so, I’ll take them with 
me.” 

No,” said Roger, finding his voice, I 
haven’t got them yet. I’ll send them to you 
sometime to-day — as soon as I receive them.” 

All right; wish you’d hurry; want to see 
what I got in Euclid,” snapped Greenapple, 
and started to go. 

Dobson glanced at his chum, and then mut- 
tered : 

'' Wait — wait a minute, Greenapple, here’s 
a letter for you.” 

'' For me! ” cried the boy. How did you 
get it? ” 

'' It was enclosed in this,” explained the boy, 
and exhibited the one from his father. 

Eh? ” questioned Greenapple, knitting his 
brows in perplexity. 


THE OXFORD RESULTS 


199 


A letter from my father and he sent this 
one for you ; and say, Greenapple, will you spend 
the Easter vacation with me? Dobson blun- 
dered on, recklessly. 

Greenapple’s scowl deepened. He shot an 
inquiring glance at Dobson, then picked up 
the letter. He read it carefully through, 
Dobson humming uneasily, and Roger biting his 
lips. At the end of the perusal he looked up. 
There was a queer twinkle in his steely-gray 
eyes. 

From your father — he sent this? he 
inquired. 

Dobson nodded. 

And you know whaUs in it? ” 

Pretty well; he wrote me that he^d written 
you, and IVe just asked you to come, havenT 
I?/' 

A strained silence reigned for a few moments, 
then Greenapple again fixed his gaze intently 
on Dobson. 

And you,^^ he demanded, you want me to 
come? 

It was a home thrust, and poor Dobson wrig- 
gled and squirmed under it. The boy was noth- 
ing if he was not honest — honest to an almost 
unpleasant degree. There was not a grain of 
tact or diplomacy in his whole make-up. He 
remained silent. 


200 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

'' And you/^ persisted Greenapple, you 
want me to come? ” 

“ No/^ blurted out Dobson desperately, 
driven to his last ditch, No, I didn’t say 
that, did I, Greenapple? But I’ve invited you, 
and you have the governor’s invitation. It 
rests with you.” 

A grim smile played around the corners of 
Greenapple’s mouth. 

“ All right,” he said briskly, I’ll come, 
since you and your father have invited me. 
If you’d said you wanted me to, I wouldn’t. 
That’s what you get by speaking the truth, 
Dobson. Let me know when you start, and 
I’ll be with you.” 

He laughed grimly. The door slammed, and 
he was gone, lea\dng Dobson and his chum 
staring blankly at one another. 

Does he mean it? ” demanded Dobson, 
as soon as the sound of the departing steps had 
died away. 

He does,” replied Roger, with emphasis, 

or I’m very much mistaken. He’s just that 
kind of a pig-headed idiot.” 

Greenapple did mean it. The two boys were 
made definitely aware of that when, two hours 
later, Roger having sent the full returns of 
the examinations to him by his fag, the latter 
returned with a scrawled note. Thanks,” it 


THE OXFORD RESULTS 


201 


read, Tell me what time Saturday you intend 
to start, and I will make arrangements to be 
with you. Do you travel hght or heavy? 
Cars or motor? 

Realizing that his countryman was serious, 
Roger paid him a visit, and explained that the 
journey would be taken in Captain Dobbs' 
brig, at which information Greenapple looked 
pleased. 

That's good," was his comment. “ Noth- 
ing beats a sea trip, to my mind." 

So the result of this strange development 
was that the three boys found themselves 
taking the local for Gloucester next Saturday 
morning. Dobson strove valiantly to do his 
duty as host, and the captain nobly seconded 
his efforts, but Greenapple remained untalka- 
tive, and conversation flagged. 

As they stepped across the gangway of Cap- 
tain Dobbs' brig, the old salt came rolling 
forward to meet them. 

“ Well, captain, we've taken you at your 
word and brought another fellow," cried Roger. 

Solomon Greenapple, Captain Dobbs." 

The captain tucked away his tobacco com- 
fortably in his left cheek. 

Eh? " he questioned. 

Solomon Greenapple," repeated Roger. 

I'm mighty glad ter meet yer. Mister 


202 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Greenapple; mighty glad/^ welcomed the Kate^s 
skipper, extending one huge red paw. You 
be all three o’ ye welcome aboard the Kate. 
Dick, show the gents below ter their berths.” 


CHAPTER XXIV 


THE SAILING OF THE KATE 

Old Gloucester, England, like its namesake 
here, has seen better days. Time was when 
Gloucester ranked high as a seaport of England; 
then the city fell on evil days, and only in 
the last fifty years has it again shown promise 
of regaining its former glory. Beneath the 
benign sun of the United States trade the 
Bristol Channel ports are again coming to 
the front, and old Gloucester is sharing with 
them the general prosperity. 

Its docks were well furnished with shipping, 
and quite a forest of masts met the gaze of 
the boys, as they followed their guide, the 
cabin boy, Dick, down the narrow, steep com- 
panionway of the Kate. 

Below deck the gloom was relieved by the 
gleam of a lantern, that showed the spotless 
planking and newly painted woodwork. 

Th^ skipper^s given ye his hown cabin,’’ 
the grinning Dick informed the boys, as he 
conducted them along the narrow passageway, 
and flinging open a door, disclosed a very 


204 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


small room, in which, compactly arranged, were 
two bunks, one over the other, and opposite 
them a faded plush couch. An’ yeTl mess 
with he, too,” the boy volunteered. Fresh 
grub all th’ time.” 

Well toss for berths,” suggested Dobson; 
what say, Yank and Green? ” 

All right; odd man takes the top one.” 
Greenapple was odd man,” and was rele- 
gated to the “ upper shelf,” as Dobson called 
it. Roger took the one beneath him, and 
Dobson occupied the faded plush couch, upon 
which Dick had made up his bed. 

It did not take the boys long to settle down. 
They had only brought a Gladstone each, the 
rest of their luggage going on to Hatherly 
Court by rail. In another five minutes they 
were on deck again, interested spectators of 
the warping out of the Kate, 

The Severn at Gloucester is sluggish and 
muddy. A fussy little tug was straining 
valiantly to pull out the brig. Captain Dobbs 
was at the wheel, and as the boys came on deck 
he beckoned for them to come over to him. 

'' Sit ye down, sit ye down,” he ordered, 
'' 111 be talkin’ with ye soon, but I wants ter 
get th’ Kate well out in th’ river first. Easy, 
there, slack her, slack her! I’ll have ter be 
towed down as fur as Berkley, I’m thinkin’; 


THE SAILING OF THE KATE 


205 


the wind’s contrary, but once I gets her out 
in Channel I’ll show you gents wot reachin’ 
and heatin’ the brig can do; never seen nothin’ 
ter beat her yet. Luff up, there, luff up!” 
The interruptions were caused by the worthy 
captain suddenly shouting some order to his 
crew or to the puffing tug ahead. Never 
catch me so fur up river as this ag’in,” he 
swore. Avonmouth is fur ’nuf fur me; 
Gloucester ain’t got no right ter be a port — 
that’s my ’pinion.” 

What a racket the sheep are making be- 
low, captain,” Roger said. 

Aye, poor dumb beasts! I’m thinkin’ 
they’ll be sufferin’ considerable when we get 
out in the chops — by th’ way, wot kind o’ 
sailormen be yer all? I reckons as we may run 
inter a fresh breeze off Nash’s Point ’bout 
midnight, an’ there’s always likely ter be a 
sea on in Cardigan Bay, but ’tis a mighty pretty 
sweep o’ water, an’ ye’ll say so when ye sees 
it. I’ll warrant.” 

The visitors went forward to examine the 
hne fastenings. The cable was secured to a 
big drum, as under bare poles the Kate was 
being towed down Severn Channelward. 

As eight bells rang out Captain Dobbs re- 
hnquished his hold on the wheel to his second 
officer, Mr. Davis. 


206 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Feedin’ time/^ he announced, with a loud 
smack of his lips. Come dong, boys.” 

As the captain and his visitors neared the 
neat little cuddy, an appetizing odor of fried 
sole came to them, and Dick, as chief maitre 
hotel f greeted them at the doorway. The 
table, securely bolted to the floor, was covered 
by a spotless white oilcloth, on which reposed 
the steaming dishes. The captain clasped his 
knotted hands a moment in silent grace, and 
then announced tersely: 

Knife and fork drill, boys.” 

With sharpened appetites, all fell to. 

Have the racks on, Dick, afore we gets ter 
Nash^s Point,” directed the skipper of the 
Kate. I smells a blow there this eve, an’ 
I’ve no fancy fur soup in me lap; prefers it 
on me plate.” 

Aye, aye, sir,” responded the cabin boy. 

You think it’s going to blow this evening, 
captain? ” inquired Roger. 

Oh, nothin’ ter speak on perhaps, but ’tis 
always choppy a bit round th’ point, and I 
likes th’ crockey lashed; never likes ter see 
nothin’ adrift.” 

'' Ma — ma — ma — ma,” came the bleats 
from forward. 

The captain chuckled. 

First live stock I ever carried ’board o’ 


THE SAILING OF THE KATE 207 

the Kate,^^ he informed his guests. Can’t 
say as I hkes ’em, either; they be so noisy. 
You be a sailorman, bain’t ye? ” he suddenly 
demanded, addressing Greenapple. 

Scarcely that, I guess, but I’ve sailed in 
Pop’s schooners sometimes — ” 

^ Pop’s schooners,’ ” repeated the captain. 

Oh, thy father’s, maybe? ” 

Yes, father’s schooners. He has a fleet of 
them. They bring ice down from Maine every 
year — fast boats, too, some of them.” 

Yes, I’ve been aboard on ’em. There was 
a Yankee schooner up here to Sharpness 
a month ago — a seven-master — all tackle 
hoisted by machinery; they brought her over 
with a crew o’ fifteen hands. Mighty cheap 
sailin’ crafts, but I can’t say as I likes their 
rig; don’t seem ter me as they’d be handy-like 
in weather. Be they snug and dry, mister? ” 
Yes,” Greenapple mumbled, I never 
heard anything against them.” 

There was one on ’em — a great three 
thousand tonner, as came ashore off the Lizard 
last year; the crew from Penzance went out an’ 
took off her hands. The schooner slid down 
ten minutes later inter deep water; ’twas a 
close shave fur the crew, mighty close.” 

Ma — ma — ma — ma,” came in plaintive 
bleats from forward. 


208 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ Blast them trotters/’ grumbled Captain 
Dobbs, “ they gives me the fidgets.” 

Just before dusk the tug cast off, and the 
Kate stood out across the bay on the starboard 
tack under her own canvas. The heaving waters 
were reflecting the last rays of the setting sun. 

’Tis a beat all down Channel,” complained 
the skipper, but once in Cardigan Bay I’ll 
warrant I’ll do some long reachin’. This ’ere 
brig’s a beauty at that; I jus’ wants you 
young gents ter see her.” 

The boys remained up until nearly midnight, 
watching, by the silver light of the moon, the 
shore on either side; now receding, now break- 
ing into view again, as the Kate went about in 
stays, first to starboard, then to port. 

Amid the strange surroundings, Roger slept 
but hghtly, but Dobson, true to his Saxon 
breed, scarcely lost a wink; it took a lot to 
disturb either his appetite or his slumbers. 
Greenapple, too, appeared quite at home. 

When the three boys came on deck early 
next morning, their gaze fell upon the broad 
Bristol Channel, all dancing and shimmering 
with white-horses. Here and there a white 
sail flashed back the brilhant spring sunshine, 
and far off ahead of them a long trail of black 
smoke was broken up by the breeze, and car- 
ried back to them in smudges. The Welsh 


THE SAILING OF TRE^ KATE 209 

coast lay a mile to starboard, and Worm’s 
Head was just looming into view. The Kate, 
close-hauled on the starboard tack, was bowl- 
ing along under nearly all her canvas, her 
skipper at the wheel. Ten minutes later she 
had rounded the point and squared away on 
the long reach across Caermarthen Bay. 

Goin’ some,” chuckled Captain Dobbs. 

How feehn’. Master Dobson? You’re lookin’ 
squeamish; you ain’t a-goin’ ter give ’way yer 
breakfast, be yer? ” 

I haven’t had any,” confessed Dobson, 
looking a sickly green. 

Aye, well, you’ll soon be takin’ yer victuals 
’gain. You ain’t a-goin’ th’ same way, be yer. 
Master Jackson? ” 

I’m afraid I am,” admitted Roger, making 
a sudden dash for the rail. 

His chum followed him a moment later, but 
Greenapple, apparently, had brought his sea 
legs along with him, and stood complacently 
watching Captain Dobbs at the wheel. 


CHAPTER XXV 


FOUL WEATHER 

The boys soon recovered from their sea- 
sickness, and before evening all three were 
in fairly good spirits. If anything will patch 
up a feud, a sea trip will, and both Roger and 
Dobson were doing their best, Greenapple re- 
sponding with some show of good-fellowship. 
The weather continued fine, although the mer- 
cury was still sinking steadily, and Captain 
Dobbs opined that they would meet a blow 
afore long.’’ Milford Haven was passed at 
dusk, and in a freshening head wind, the Kate 
stood past the Scoomer Islands, and began the 
beat through the St. George’s Channel. Rain 
commenced to come down, and finding the deck 
.unpleasant, the boys betook themselves be- 
low, where they whiled away the evening read- 
ing. Dobson and Roger endeavored to play 
a game of chess, but the pitching of the small 
brig sent kings, knights and bishops spinning, 
and soon stopped the game. 

“Dirty weather,” growled Captain Dobbs, 
as he staggered past them an hour later, on 


FOUL WEATHER 


211 


his way up on deck. He was encased in oil- 
skins. You boys had better turn in/^ he 
suggested. 

“ We’re going to/’ Roger promised, we 
can’t sit in the chairs now.” 

Believe we’ll have to strap ourselves in 
the bunks,” Dobson called after the old man. 
‘^Greenapple will, I’m sure; he’s top man.” 

Just listen to them sheep,” the captain 
roared back, pausing. The poor dumb beasts 
is nearly crazy with fright.” 

A fearful hubbub was coming from the fore- 
castle. The brig was creaking and groaning 
as if in pain, and from the deck above came 
the sound of hurrying feet and shouted orders. 
“ We’re gettin’ snug fur th’ night,” the captain 
explained, still lingering before he went on 
deck. Keep the coffee hot, Dick; the boys’ll 
want it soon. Good night, young gents, 
good night; never you mind ’bout wot’s out- 
side; you’ll be nice an’ snug down here; the 
Kate^s a fine, dry craft; ’tis little water as gets 
below.” 

It was difficult to compose oneself for sleep 
amid that confusion of sounds. 

Are you awake. Dob? ” cried Roger, after 
an hour’s vain effort. 

Rather,” shouted Dobson. How can a 
fellow go to sleep with this racket going on? ” 


212 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ Well, Apple’s done it, anyway; just listen 
to his snoring! I can hear it above the wind 
and the roar.” 

The boy in the top berth was trumpeting 
loudly, utterly oblivious to the storm that 
roared without. 

Phew, that was a deep one! ” cried Dobson, 
as the Kate slid down into a hollow of water, 
and then climbed up out of it again. Some- 
times it seems as if she’d never come up again; 
there’s an awful lot of difference between a 
httle brig like this one and those big liners 
we went over and came back in, eh? ” 

“ Rather — why, what in thunder was that? ” 

An awful sound burst upon the ears of the 
startled boys; a rending and tearing, a split- 
ting and crashing, a roaring and shrieking, as 
if the lid had suddenly been lifted from the 
bottommost pit, and all creation was shrieking 
in direst agony. 

Quick! Quick, Dob! ” yelled Roger. 

Come on! ” 

He leaped from his bed, and with a single 
bound was upon the floor, but quick as he was, 
some one else was as rapid, for as he sprang 
out and dragged on his trousers, the red-headed 
American, from the berth above, landed with 
a bound beside him, and clad only in his pa- 
jamas, dashed from the cabin. 


FOUL WEATHER 


213 


Roger was staggering along the narrow pas- 
sageway a moment or so after him, with Dobson 
close at his heels. The brig was pitching in 
alarming fashion, and every atom and particle 
groaning, as if in protest of the treatment it 
was receiving. The shriek of the wind, and 
the thunderous roar of the waves told only too 
plainly that a fearful gale was blowing, and 
above it all arose a weird, uncanny noise — a 
noise that rose and fell, and died away, only 
to break out with yet more terrifying violence. 
It appeared to come from nowhere in particular, 
and from everywhere in general. One moment 
Roger was flung violently against the wall 
planking, with a force that threatened to stave 
it in, and the next he was staggering backward, 
clutching here, there, everywhere for some 
support. As he grasped the rail of the com- 
panionway and endeavored to climb up deck- 
ward, the httle brig appeared to have suddenly 
decided to settle and go down by the stern, 
and Roger, losing his hold, was sent flying up 
against the little doorway, that crashed in as 
he came in contact with it, and the next mo- 
ment he was scrambling, knee deep, in a swirl- 
ing sea of salt water. 

Look out, you idiot; let me up!’^ roared 
Dobson, into whom Roger had been pre- 
cipitated. 


214 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

What — what is it? WTiat has happened? 
gasped Roger, picking himself up and endeavor- 
ing to make out his surroundings. 

It^s the storm and we’re sinking — we’re 
going down,” spluttered Dobson, his mouth 
full of salt water. 

Where are you two fools,” came a yell 
from above them. 

Here, here, down here! ” shouted Roger, 
recognizing Greenapple’s voice and his own 
description. 

Bang! Bang! Crash! Crash! ” came from 
above them, and then Greenapple yelled: 

Get up this ladder here and help me bash 
this hatch in; they’ve battened it down, the 
idiots.” 

Is the brig sinking. Green? ” yelled Roger, 
crawling upward again out of his involuntary 
bath. 

No,” rasped the boy above him. We’ve 
shipped a heavy sea, though, and some of it 
has got below. Something’s gone wrong for- 
ward, too — something’s staved in there; con- 
sam this hatch, there’s no getting it open.” 
He leaped back again amongst them, knee 
deep in the swishing salt water. “ Hang tight 
to something, or you’ll get hurt — here she 
comes again! ” 

She came, indeed! She came with a ven- 


FOUL WEATHER 


215 


geance, and the little vessel slid down, down, 
down, with a speed that was sickening. Would 
she never come up again? There came a sound 
of thundering water, and the gasping boys were 
almost smothered in the deluge, as the great 
waves found their way aboard and below. 
Despite battened hatches, it was evident the 
Kate was shipping a lot of water. Then that 
fearful downward plunge stopped, and up, up, 
up they went again, while the brig shivered and 
strained like a frightened fawn. Hanging, 
clutching, clawing at everything and anything, 
half suffocated, half drowned, the boys could 
do nothing but hold tight and gasp. Now a 
cross sea struck her with a heavy swing, as 
a man swings on his opponent in the ring, 
and she reeled under it, rolling to what seemed 
to the boys a perilous degree. Then over, far 
over to the other side, and they heard the great 
combers come thundering over her starboard 
gunwales; then, as if seeking to escape, down, 
down she plunged madly, shaking the three 
imprisoned boys about like peas in a pod, 
while above all the din of the storm, above the 
racking of the brig, and the groaning and 
working of her frame, arose that sound they had 
first heard — that half-human, half-animal wail 
of abject fear and utter misery. 

‘‘ T^at — what is that? stammered Dob- 


216 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


son, clinging desperately to an upright. Roger 
had wound himself around the bottom com- 
panionway post, and Greenapple was gripping 
the rail that ran along the passageway. 

“ It’s those trotters forward,” he yelled. 

I think they’ve broken loose.” 

The red-headed American was by far the 
coolest and most composed of the party. Roger 
and Dobson fully expected every plunge of 
the brig to be her last. It was their first terri- 
fying experience of a full gale. Cooped up as 
they were, locked down between decks, they 
thought to be drowned like rats in a trap. 
With Greenapple it was different. He had 
taken several trips on the ice schooners plying 
between Norfolk and Maine, and he knew that 
so long as their craft remained staunch there 
was little danger of her going down. He con- 
centrated all his efforts on avoiding broken 
bones. Here,” he yelled, a moment later, 

let’s go forward and see what the trouble 
is there. Make a chain, so — that’s it — hang 
tight; all together. I’ll get hold of these run- 
ning supports. Now, don’t let go; just hang 
tight — come on! ” and staggering along, head 
down, the boy commenced to claw his way 
forward along the passageway, now pitching 
forward with the lunge of the Kate, now reel- 
ing back as she yawed, now swinging almost 


FOUL WEATHER 


217 


around as she sagged, he fought his way on, 
on, on, his two companions clinging together 
for dear life. “ He shouldn’t have battened 
down that hatch without telling us,” yelled 
Greenapple savagely, as his head came in con- 
tact with a door at the far end of the passage. 

Look out, here she goes again! ” shouted 
Dobson, as the Kate shivered and wriggled, 
and then commenced to slide down into the 
next abyss, with a rush that brought all the lads 
to their knees in a confused jumble in the 
water. Is she sinking, Crabapple? ” he de- 
manded, in his excitement going back to the 
old nickname. 

Nixie; she’ll hold all right unless they pile 
her up ashore somewhere, but she’s been put 
about; she’s running with the wind now; she’ll 
be steadier, I guess. Yes, just as I thought, the 
sheep are all loose! ” 

The boy had finally pounded open the tough, 
wooden door, and now the scene of the disaster 
lay before them. As Greenapple flung open 
the door, the uncanny noises they had heard 
burst upon them in a perfect din, as the terri- 
fied sheep scrambled and jostled about in hope- 
less confusion. 

The forward lower deck of the brig had been 
converted into cattle stalls by the erection of 
stout wooden pens, each containing some twenty 


218 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


sheep. The divisions had racked loose during 
the storm, and now the hundreds of sheep were 
being driven backward and forward, to port 
or starboard, in a struggling, terrified, bleating 
mob. Some water had worked below and now 
swirled and splashed around them, adding to 
their terror. The weaker animals of the flock 
had been trampled under, and lay about half 
drowned and helpless. 

In an instant Greenapple was all action. 
By common consent, he took command. Now 
that the brig was running before the wind, the 
rolling and pitching was less violent, and the 
boys were able to keep their feet. 

Come on,’^ shouted Greenapple, all his 
brusque manner returning to him, “ these 
darned brutes will jump on each other till 
they’re all dead. Lift that rail up.” 

What ’re you going to do; try to pen ’em 
up? ” 

Sure. See; that long rod that runs the 
whole length has worked loose, and let it all 
down.” 

I see,” Dobson cried, beginning to get in- 
terested. Come on, Yank! ” 

Well, look here — ^^whoop — there she goes 
again! ” 

'' Never mind the brig; she’s all right; let’s 
get the trotters in.” 


FOUL WEATHER 


219 


WeTl have to get a few in a pen at a time 
and shut them up; that^s the only way/^ said 
Roger. 

'' Sure, that's what I intend to do." 

Greenapple seized one end of the long rail, 
Dobson the other, and Roger got under the 
middle. It was no small matter to get that 
heavy bar up, with the vessel rolling and pitch- 
ing as she was, and the terrified sheep now 
huddled together in one corner, now making 
a wild rush, en masses for some other point; 
now sent staggering this way by the roll of the 
brig, now precipitated that, as she recovered 
herself. The din was deafening. There is no 
more senseless animal than a sheep, — except 
it be a chicken. They blindly follow one an- 
other even to destruction. A flock of them has 
been known to leap one after another from a 
precipice into the abyss hundreds of feet below, 
simply following the blind, senseless lead of 
one of their number. 

Once the bar was in position, and a few pens 
erected, Greenapple lost no time, but bodily 
seizing a sheep, lifted it over inside. Roger and 
Dobson followed his example. The game be- 
came interesting, and they began to forget 
everything, even the rolling, as they chased 
their objects, and cast them, strugghng and 
kicking, inside the pens. 


220 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Talk about a rough house/ ^ yelled Green- 
apple, who appeared to be immensely enjoying 
the work. 

'' Look out, Dob, stop that black beggar! 
cried Roger. 

Dobson endeavored to seize the escaping 
black sheep, and was sent sprawling his full 
length, while the runaway continued his mad 
flight, with Roger hanging desperately to the 
short stump of his tail. 

Oh, well tackled, sir! applauded Dobson, 
as the captain flung himself on the sheep 
and brought him down. “ Say, this is jolly 
fine practice for the squad next year, eh? ’’ 

Beats the dummy all hollow,’^ panted 
Roger. 

Greenapple was working feverishly. His 
great arms encircled a runaway every minute, 
and lifted it struggling and kicking over inside 
the pens. He did little or no talking now, and 
beyond a smothered exclamation of wrath, as 
■ one evaded him, no words came from his 
lips. 

Elusive beggars,^^ complained Roger, as he 
again tackled valiantly. “ Oh, well collared. 
Dob; that was well tackled. 

The light’s so thundering poor,” was the 
valiant Dobson’s comment, as he struggled 
penward with one of the kicking animals. 


FOUL WEATHER 


221 


In the midst of the furious game they were 
interrupted by the sudden appearance of Cap- 
tain Dobbs, followed by two seamen. 

'' Well, I never did — I never did,^' ejacu- 
lated the old salt, as he stood an amazed spec- 
tator of the extraordinary scene. I knowed 
something were wrong here below, but I couldn’t 
get ’way from th’ wheel afore. Good fur ye, 
me hearties; you be a-gettin’ ’em in. Be there 
any damaged ’uns? ” 

Hello, Captain,” shouted Dobson, no 
end of a mess here; come on and help.” 

Get along and get busy,” ordered the 
skipper, addressing his two seamen, and the 
Henley party was strengthened by two sailors. 

There are some of them here with broken 
legs. Captain,” Roger called. 

What did you batten us down for? ” de- 
manded Greenapple gruffly, turning on the 
captain. What do you think we are, a lot 
of women and children? ” 

“ Now, now, young master,” interrupted the 
captain, holding up his hand. “ I’m skipper 
aboard this craft, an’ I done wot I thought 
was fit an’ proper. Down below was safest 
place fur you young gents. I wasn’t goin’ 
ter take no chance o’ yer being swept oversides; 
you was ’sleep when I come down ter tell ye 
as I was goin’ ter batten down.” 


222 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


What^s the brig doing now, running still? 
demanded Greenapple. 

“ No, IVe put her ^bout. Th’ gale’s most 
blowed itself out. I had ter run last night. 
Th’ biggest seas come ’board her as I ever see; 
don’t know as I ever seen ’em bigger. Some o’ 
me canvas be gone, too. I be mightily obliged 
ter you young masters fur takin’ care o’ things 
down here. I had ter call th’ two tenders up 
ter help me take in the canvas; never had no 
idea as them pens would stave in.” 

It’s lucky we did take a hand,” Green- 
apple growled, “ or your sheep would have been 
all mutton.” 

“ Well, come ’long, an’ leave th’ boys ter 
handle th’ rest on ’em; yer got yer sea legs, I 
notice. She’s still rollin’ consid’ble. Dick! 
Dick! Where’s the coffee? Put some on twix 
the racks; th’ young gents’ll be peckish. I’ll 
warrant.” 

“ I’m damaged a bit,” laughed Dobson. 

Got a cut or something when I was knocked 
down.” 

Well, now, that be too bad; I’ll have ter 
fix ye up with some plaster, but it weren’t I 
as sent th’ blow, boys; ’twas the good Lord 
above us; we be all in the hollow o’ his hand.” 


CHAPTER XXVI 


MAN OVERBOARD 

It was morning — just morning — dull and 
gray, with leaden, lowering sky, and heavy, 
high-running sea, that reflected the gloom of 
the heavens. The brig, with foretopgallant 
trailing deckward, and beating under lower 
canvas only, had rounded St. David^s Head, 
meeting a big Cunarder, tearing for Fishguard, 
their new port of destination. Roger and 
Dobson, with Greenapple just behind, had come 
on deck, after a wash-down and breakfast, ap- 
parently none the worse for their night^s ex- 
perience, with the exception of Dobson’s plaster- 
decorated forehead. 

We’ll run into fine weather soon,” Captain 
Dobbs promised, an’ then ye’ll have a good 
time, as Mister Jackson says. There’s ne’er 
a prettier bay in th’ world than Cardigan. 
Now, boys, get ’loft an’ cut ’way broken tackle ” 
— this to some members of the crew. Four 
men in charge of the second officer went aloft 
to repair the damage, while the Kate^s skipper 
went on: “ Never strained a seam through all 


224 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


last night’s blow; how’s that fur a staunch 
craft, misters? ” 

Where did all the water come from, then? ” 
demanded Dobson. Why it swished along 
up to our knees sometimes last night.” 

Aye, ter be sure; that only worked in from 
oversides, though. No wonder, with the seas 
as come aboard her, either. Once, when we 
was shiftin’ wheel hands, she fell off a point er 
two, an’ wallowed smartish; then we took two 
green seas as fast as ye could count, an’ some o’ 
that got below, course. Why — ” 

But a startling shout cut the captain’s 
speech short — a shout, perhaps the most 
dreaded of all by mariners: 

Man overboard! Man overboard! ” 

In an instant there was commotion aboard 
the Kate. 

Luff — luff up!” roared Captain Dobbs, 
dashing forward to the wheel. 

Where away? Where away? ” came the 
shouts from the deck watch. Life buoy! 
Cast the buoy! Starboard, there! Heave to! 
Man the cutter! Cutter away, there! ” 

Every one appeared to be shouting at the 
same time. Three or four men dashed to the 
starboard davits, and commenced to unlash 
the cutter, which had been securely fastened 
previous to the gale. 


MAN OVERBOARD 


225 


Cut ’em, boys! Cut ’em ’way!” roared 
the skipper. 

The men worked furiously, ripping the tar- 
paulin away and endeavoring to cut loose the 
lashings. The three boys, with one accord, 
rushed to the starboard rail, where they 
had caught a fleeting glance of a struggling 
form. 

It was one of the men from aloft. During 
one of the heavy rolls of the brig, he had lost 
his balance, and been hurled down into the 
leaden waters. 

“ Look out. Crab, what’re you doing! ” 
shouted Roger, endeavoring to lay a detaining 
hand upon his countryman, who, like lightning, 
had slipped his shoes and coat, and sprang 
cleverly to the top of the rail. 

“Come back, Apple, you idiot!” roared 
Dobson, also making a grab for the boy. 

“ Mind your own business,” snarled Green- 
apple, swinging his right arm, and cutting him- 
self loose from the grasp of his companions. 
He stood there poised a second, then his body 
flashed through the air, a splash, a dull thud, 
and he was gone, leaving Roger and Dobson 
gazing wildly over the side at the spot where 
he had disappeared. 

They heard Captain Dobbs shouting a series 
of rapid orders, and saw him run across the 


226 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


deck and slash at the obstinate lashings of the 
cutter. The boat was cut free. 

Lower away! ’’ came the captain’s sharp 
command. Out sweeps; fend her off, there; 
pull away ! pull away, boys ! Pull for your hves ! 
Give way! ” and down into the troughs and up 
the succeeding mountains of gray water strug- 
gled the cutter of the Kate^ in charge of her 
master, in her race with death, while the brig 
spun around like a top, and luffed up into the 
swell almost broadside on. 

Roger and Dobson stood clutching the board 
bulwarks, aghast. The whole affair had oc- 
curred with startling swiftness. One moment 
they had been talking with Captain Dobbs; 
the cry had come, and almost before they had 
realized it Greenapple had taken the leap, and 
was struggling doggedly away to where a bob- 
bing head showed where fought the seaman from 
the Kate; and up, up, down, down, two flashes 
of white there, two here, marked where the 
oars of the cutter were being pulled by her 
short-handed crew, while in the stern, his 
weather-beaten face peering out keenly from 
beneath his slouch hat, and tiller tucked under 
his arm, crouched Captain Dobbs, while his deep 
voice came back to them in stentorian roars of : 

One, one, one, one,” as he swayed back and 
forth in unison with the men at the rowlocks. 


MAN OVERBOARD 


227 


It was no child’s work to take a small boat 
like the Kate^s cutter out in that sea. The, 
water was still running in mountains of gray 
and green, with angry top crests of foam, as if^ 
in resentment to last night’s gale. 

Look! Look! There he is! ” Roger yelled, 
grasping Dobson by the arm. 

That’s Crabgreen; I can see his red mop, 
and there’s the other chap — he’s getting to him. 
Go it Greencrab — go it! The boat’s coming! 
The boat’s coming! Hang on! Hang on! ” 
shouted Dobson, mad with excitement, and 
scarcely knowing how he spoke. The boy had 
struggled out of his coat, as if meditating a 
plunge in pursuit of the Henley swimmer, but 
Roger restrained him. 

Stay here. Dob. You can do no good now; 
the boat will get him, if anything can. They’re 
pulling like everything — pull ! pull ! Pull, you 
beggars!” yelled Roger, like his chum, for- 
getting everything in the tenseness of the 
moment. 

Dick, the cabin boy, had rushed up from the 
lower deck, and now joined his shouts with 
those of the lads, while the crew of the brig 
fought her up into the wind in pursuit of the 
cutter. 

They could plainly see Greenapple now; his 
arms going like flails; his mop of red buried 


228 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

every instant in the great rollers. Once, 
twice, he altered his stroke to the breast one, 
and lifted himself almost shoulders out, looking 
around evidently to see if he was going in the 
right direction, then furiously he recommenced 
the overhand stroke again, while with every 
swing of the oars the cutter overhauled him. 

Help — help — ” was borne to the excited 
watchers, in a smothered cry, and then an an- 
swering yell of: Coming, coming; don’t quit,” 
from Greenapple, while from the cutter came 
the earnest, stentorian shouts of the Kate’s skip- 
per, as he urged his men along: Give way! 
Give way! Give way! ” 

Now Greenapple was within a cable’s length 
of his goal. They saw him lifted high up on 
the summit of a great roller, and then down, 
down again, lost in the succeeding trough, and 
when next they saw him, he was with the nearly 
exhausted man, swimming a slow breast stroke, 
the sailor with both hands on his shoulder, rest- 
ing, waiting for the oncoming boat. It came 
with a great rush down into the abyss of water; 
tore past them, swung around and backwatered. 
Then a coil of rope circled through the air, a 
life buoy followed. There was a manoeuvering 
for position, and then they saw the two drip- 
ping forms drawn into the cutter by sturdy 
arms, and the boat was heading back for the 



WHEN NEXT THEY SAW HIM, HE WAS WITH THE NEARLY EXHAUSTED 

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MAN OVERBOARD 229 

brig, fighting its way up and down the dark 
mountains of water. 

The brig was luffed up and waiting for them; 
three or four men were clinging expectantly 
to the rail, with tackle ready to hoist, and Dick, 
true to his position as steward, had rushed off 
to prepare hot coffee and restoratives. Roger 
was cheering frantically, and Dobson, all his 
slower Saxon disposition stirred by a great 
emotion, was joining in the hurrahs of the 
waiting seamen. 

The cutter came in with a rush, and shot 
up cleverly alongside the brig’s bulwarks; the 
hooks were made fast, the pulleys worked, 
and up, up, up, dripping with the brine, was 
ha ded the cutter of the Kate^ with her crew, 
rescued and rescuer. 

“ Get ’long inter th’ galley with ye two,” 
commanded Captain Dobbs, and the man was 
borne off by his messmates, with Greenapple 
following, apparently little the worse for his 
wetting. 

Th’ neatest thing as I ever seen done,” 
muttered the Kate^s skipper, as he rolled after 
them. ’Nother sixty seconds an’ he’d have 
gone down — we’d n’er have been there in 
time. Th’ lad done well, God bless him. 
Bring her up inter the wind, Mr. Davis, an’ 
square ’way.” 


CHAPTER XXVII 


EN VOYAGE 

In the rolling little galley, with its clanging 
pots and pans, an epoch was being marked in 
the life of Solomon Greenapple. For the first 
time in his career he was realizing the pleasures 
of true comradeship ; for the first time in many 
years he knew the worth and meaning of a 
hand grip. 

There was nothing hysterical in the congratu- 
lations of his schoolmates. Your Anglo-Saxon 
does not express his commendation by falling 
on the neck, and with tears. It was the grip 
of the hand, the square, direct glance of the 
eye that told Solomon Greenapple all he cared 
. to know, and in that minute or so in the galley 
of the Kate he knew he stood a peer with his two 
schoolmates: that all the unkind past was 
blotted out; all the ungenerous words apolo- 
gized for, and that henceforth, so far as his 
countryman and Dobson were concerned, he 
was their chum — one of Henley ^s fellows. 
He had proved his mettle when he looked Death 


EN VOYAGE 


231 


in the face, and grappled with the grim des- 
troyer in the swell of the St. George's Channel. 

Neither were Captain Dobbs' congratula- 
tions any more boisterous. 

'' You done well, young man," was all the 
skipper of the Kate said, an' I'd like ter 
shake hands with ye, bein' as yer willin'. Now, 
get out'er them duds an' rub yerself down smart- 
ish-like; lend a hand, boys." 

The captain's prediction of fine weather came 
true, and that night a golden sunset foretold a 
fine to-morrow. The northwesterly wind veered 
to southwest, and the Kate ploughed her way 
through lessening billows under increasing can- 
vas. The damage to the foretopgallant was 
repaired before night; new sails were bent, and 
a touch of the paint brush here and there made 
the brig look spick and span. Her decks 
gleamed white and spotless under the rays of 
the setting sun; and the sea, now running in 
long, oily swells, gave a pleasant, lullaby mo- 
tion. Not a jot of land was in sight. The 
Kate was running almost dead before the wind 
across the wide sweep of Cardigan Bay. Far 
off to starboard was the unseen Welsh coast; 
to port lay the equally invisible Emerald Isle; 
she was bowling over the green waters of the 
Irish Sea. Passing craft were frequent. Now 
a big side-wheeler excursion steamer, crowded 


232 HENLEY’S AMEKICAN CAPTAIN 


with holiday seekers; now a long, powerful, 
mail boat, racing with the brown sacks of the 
G. P. 0., and then a small fleet of smacks 
making for their fishing grounds. 

Slowly the long twihght deepened. The 
shipping was blotted out by the sable mantle 
of night; still, here or there a heaving red or 
green fight marked the progress of some vessel. 
On the Kate, the night lanterns were hung out 
— a red to port, a green to starboard, and the 
emerald and ruby rays were reflected upon the 
long, oily swells, and danced and gleamed upon 
the white crests of foam. It was a beautiful 
night, a very different one to the last. 

After supper, the boys came on deck, and 
there fingered until late. It was difficult to 
tear themselves away from the scene, for pres- 
ently the glorious silver moon appeared far 
down in the eastern sea, and slowly mounting 
into the night, spread everywhere a restful 
calm — a calm and a silence that was broken 
only by the half-hourly clang of the Kate's 
bell, the low orders and the creaking of cordage, 
or slight flapping or straining of canvas, and 
then the break of the waters against the bow of 
the brig, and the swirl along her rail. The 
Kate's boatswain was at her wheel, and the 
odor of shag tobacco was wafted now and again 
to the boys, as they lounged forward of the 


EN VOYAGE 233 

main hatch, gazing out across the dim waste 
of water. 

There^s some ship coming almost straight 
toward us,’^ pointed out Dobson, as a twinkhng 
green hght dipped and nodded afar off. 

Wonder which way she^s going? ” ques- 
tioned Roger. 

Coming toward us from the Irish coast, 
mumbled Greenapple, who was drowsily rest- 
ing with his chin on the rail. 

Doesn^t seem to be moving at all; how^d 
you know which way she's going? " demanded 
Dobson. 

Greenapple leaned back in his chair and 
hummed : 

“ If to my starboard red appear, 

It is my duty to keep clear; 

Act as judgment says is proper — 

‘ Port! ’ or ‘ Starboard! ' ‘ Back! ^ or ‘'Stop her! ’ 

But when upon my port is seen 
A steamer’s starboard light of green, 

For me there’s naught to do, but see 
That green to port keeps clear of me.” 

Good thing to remember/' he commented; 

skipper of one of Pop's schooners taught it 
me on a trip up north two years ago." 

Six bells clanging out noisily from the Kate’s 
clapper broke in upon the low-toned conversa- 
tion. 


234 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

“ What time's that — eleven, isn't it? " 
inquired Roger. 

Yep," assented Greenapple. 

Don't let's turn in yet; it's too bally fine," 
demurred Dobson, anticipating some suggestion 
like that from his chum. 

Greenapple again flung himself forward, 
chin on the rail. 

The green light had crept in nearer. They 
could see it now quite plainly, nodding and 
courtesying to them on the swell, and then the 
tall, spectral-like masts and yards loomed 
out and the dim deck light over the steersman, 
showing up his figure, with arms grasping 
wheel. It was a large, three-masted, full- 
rigged ship, bearing down on them on the 
starboard tack. 

What's she going to do — go back or front 
of us? " demanded Dobson. 

I guess she'll come about before she reaches 
us, and square away on the port tack in front," 
opined Greenapple, slowly getting to his feet, 
and gazing at the approaching stranger. 

The Kate^s bell clanged noisily in warning 
to the on-coming vessel, and the boatswain, at 
the wheel, gave a few orders. Still the stranger 
held on her course. The Kate’s deck watch 
stood to the braces, and the brig veered off to 
starboard, her red port lights gleaming into the 


EN VOYAGE 


235 


green lanterns of the ship, and the boatswain^s 
voice was raised in a hoarse, stentorian roar: 

Ahoy! Ahoy! Are ye asleep, there? ” 
There was a brief second’s silence, then came 
a bustle aboard the stranger; shouted orders; 
a running of bare feet, that could plainly be 
heard, and then she stood away on the other 
tack, while the Kate swung back, and passed her 
not two hundred feet astern, with her boatswain 
yelling compliments at the receding boat. 

Be yer all asleep, there, ye blind bats! ” 
he roared angrily. 

Aw, go ter blazes, yer nervous kittens; 
we seen yer,” came back the retort, as the 
stern light of the ship faded into the night. 

Bet he was asleep,” commented the Kate^s 
steersman, still gazing wrathfully after the 
stranger. ’Tis just such darned-fool careless- 
ness as that as brings ’bout smashes.” 

He lit his pipe again, and resumed his trick at 
the wheel, while the three boys arose, and 
stretching themselves, went down the com- 
panionway to their berths below. 

That beautiful night was succeeded by a 
beautiful day, with brilliant, almost summer 
sunshine, and a whole sail breeze. When 
Captain Dobbs’ visitors came on deck next 
morning, the Kate was traveling at a great 
rate, with every stitch of canvas drawing. 


236 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


and far off, away to the northeast, a tiny blur 
showed where Bardsey Island was just coming 
into view. Considerable excitement was being 
displayed by the crew, and at the wheel, old 
Captain Dobbs was evidently exhibiting the 
best paces of the brig. The cause was not far 
to seek. Out some mile and a half, almost 
abeam of the Kate, a large brigantine, under all 
canvas, was reaching in gallant style. 

She come out from th’ Irish coast early 
this morn, an’ been holdin’ us th’ last three 
hours,” explained Captain Dobbs. I’ll war- 
rant she’s bound ter Birkenhead, same as we 
be, but I’ll beat her in, if ’tis in th’ Kate ter 
do it — shake out th’ baby jib, there, Mr. 
Davis; I’ll carry balloons afore I’ll take their 
tow. ’Tis a mighty fine sailin’ breeze, an’ th’ 
Kate^ll stand all canvas I can put on her.” 

The boys crowded to the port rail, and gazed 
out at the reaching brigantine. The foam was 
smothering away from her bow in long, grace- 
ful rolls, as she lay down to the breeze, and 
footed fast. 

Get a move on yer; shake that rag out! ” 
roared the skipper, now right in his element; 

I wants ter give her me stern wash ’round 
Bardsey, an’ then I’ll square away fur Holy- 
head, an’ lose her on th’ beat in from Camel’s 
Point cross ter Birkenhead, maybe. Th’ 


EN VOYAGE 


237 


Kate's good at reachih’, but better at beatinV’ 
he explained to Greenapple, who had come 
across deck, and was standing near the wheel. 

The boy was gazing aloft critically at the 
canvas. 

Everything’s drawing well,” he commented, 
and she stands up good and stiff; I guess 
she’ll bear all the canvas you can crowd on 
her.” 

In this breeze, yes, but I ain’t one never 
ter take no risks, though I likes a bit o’ fast 
sailin’ as well as most ’uns, but ’tis business 
first with me, and sport a’terwards.” 

The old salt stopped, and shading his eyes 
with his hand, contemplated the distant vessel. 
She ain’t a-footin’ it so fast,” he muttered. 
Strikes me as th’ wind is a-falhn’; hope it’ll 
hold till we rounds Bardsey.” 

The race soon became very interesting. 
Despite Captain Dobbs’ fears, the wind did 
not decrease, but continued to hold steady 
and true. The two ships fast lessened the dis- 
tance between them and Bardsey Island, 
drawing closer and closer to one another as 
they bore down upon it, the stranger gradually 
crawling up on the Kate, which, despite her 
inside position, appeared to be losing in her 
race for the promontory. The brigantine, 
however, stood so long on the starboard reach 


238 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


that she got too near in, and had to take a 
short tack to clear, and this gave the Kate^ 
whose master had calculated the distance bet- 
ter, the advantage by a bare four minutes, 
by which time she rounded the island, and stood 
off Carnarvon Bay for Holyhead, with the 
brigantine half a mile astern. 

Other craft passed and met the Kate, but 
aboard the brig all interest was centered on 
their rival, which appeared to be of about the 
same tonnage. With the exception of a short 
time spent below for meals, the boys remained 
all day on deck, interested spectators. 

There was a lot of jockeying around Holy- 
head, and again in the broad reach for GarneTs 
Point, but Captain Dobbs was on his mettle, 
and more than held his own. 

Just before passing Holyhead, an incident 
occurred that for the time being, at least, 
eclipsed the feverish interest in the race, for as 
Captain Dobbs stood out to come about around 
the little Welsh seaport, a big, chpper-bowed 
steamer, with two funnels and pole masts, 
came racing past them on the port side. The 
captain and crew’, intent only on pushing their 
brig to her limit, had been taking small notice 
of anything else, but as for a fleeting moment 
the skipper permitted his eyes to rest upon 
the steamer, his jaw dropped, and he stared as 


EN VOYAGE 239 

if he had seen a ghost. Next moment his com- 
mand rang out authoritatively: 

Mr. Davis, run the jack up to the main 
and dip smartly — hump yerself, sir; dip 
smartly three times. By th^ great Lord Harry, 
if it ain^t the royal yacht! 

All eyes were now focused upon the great 
steamer. A splendid sight she presented, as 
with clipper bow and shapely body that scarcely 
caused a ripple, she tore through the water. 
But it was not upon her hull or funnels they all 
gazed, but at that immense, gorgeous flag that 
stood out from her main, all purple and gold 
— the Royal Standard, that told of the pres- 
ence of royalty aboard. 

Dobson, like the true Englishman he was, be- 
came at once madly enthusiastic. Never had 
Roger seen him behave in such an excited man- 
ner before. Your true Briton, though stolid and 
unemotional as a rule, is capable of tremendous 
enthusiasm when he is thoroughly aroused. But 
it takes something to arouse him. He must be 
singing God, save the King (taking his hat off 
to himself, as Max O’Rell calls it). Or perhaps 
the announced result of a hard-fought battle 
may bring him to his feet with those deep- 
chested cheers. I saw John Bull thus go mad 
once in London some years ago. It was on 
the occasion of the relief of Maf eking, and then 


240 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

for ten hours he put to shame the wildest joy 
of any Parisian mob. Our old friend John 
Bull went clean, stark, staring mad, and then 
next morning looked around sheepishly and 
was very much ashamed of himself. So now, 
as the word flew from mouth to mouth: The 
King! The King!’’ and as the Union Jack 
snapped and cracked in the fresh breeze, and 
fluttered up and down in frenzied salutes, Dob- 
son went suddenly insane. 

Oh, Yank, Crabgreen, Yank, look, you beg- 
gars! It’s the King! Hurrah for Henley — 
hurrah for the King! Get up here, you beg- 
gars. Yell! Yell! The Royal Yacht! The 
Royal Yacht! Hurrah! Hurrah — Henley — I 
mean the King! Hack it through — well pulled, 
sir! The King! The King! The King! Hur- 
rah! Hurrah! Hurrah! ” 

The wildly excited boy had grasped Roger 
by the collar, and was endeavoring to lift him 
up bodily into the shrouds of the mizzenmast, 

' where he had clambered at the first excitement. 

Let go. Dob, you ass!” yelled Roger, 
struggling to release himself from the grip. 
I’m coming up; let me go.” 

But Dobson was past understanding any- 
thing. With his legs firmly interwoven with 
the rope ladder, he continued to shout and 
shout and wave and wave frenziedly, and when 


EN VOYAGE 


241 


at last Roger scrambled up beside him, he was 
still cheering, almost black in the face, for 
the king, and Henley and the Kate and Cap- 
tain Dobbs, and assuring every one within reach 
of his voice (and that was at least one-half 
mile) that it was: Well pulled, sir,” “ Hacked 
through,” and Well hit,” and Played, sir,” 
and a dozen other hackneyed school phrases, 
while from the seamen crowded at the rail 
and in the rigging, arose cheer after cheer and 
hurrah after hurrah. Dick and the chief officer 
were frantically sending the Union Jack up 
and down, up and down as if their lives de- 
pended on it, and Captain Dobbs, having 
hastily lashed the wheel, utterly forgetful of 
the race, and having exhausted himself with 
cheering, had removed the inevitable quid of 
tobacco from his mouth, and was engaged in 
tossing it up and catching it again, his weather- 
beaten face wreathed in one immense grin. 

Even Roger caught the enthusiasm, and 
cheered and cheered and cheered; while Green- 
apple, who appeared to be the only one aboard 
the Kate who had not gone insane, lifted his 
cap now and again, and then glared around 
at the crazy crew, as if ashamed of being caught 
in the act. 

From the great steamer came a prolonged, 
hoarse hoot, and a signal boy on the flying 


242 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


bridge, wigwagged a rapid message of: Thank 
you.'^ Then a trim-bearded, nattily-dressed 
man, in yachting rig, stepped to the starboard 
rail of the navigating bridge, and politely 
raised his cap, while a boyish figure at his side 
followed his greeting, whereat the hurrahs on 
the Kate broke out afresh, and enthusiastic 
shouts of “ The King! The Prince o’ Wales! ” 
were merged into that grand old tune that does 
duty as national anthem for so many countries, 
and God save our gracious King, floated across 
the dancing blue from the Kate to the royal 
yacht. 

The big steamer swung across the Kate^s 
bows, and headed for Holyhead, leaving be- 
hind her a long trail of black smudge. 

Where’s she going to? ” demanded Roger. 

’Tis ter Carnarvon Castle he an’ th’ prince 
be goin’,” replied Captain Dobbs, fur he 
ain’t th’ Prince o’ Wales yet, not till he’s gone 
through some sorter cermony there.” 

' “ That’s so,” agreed Dobson, I remember 
now, they are going to invest him as Prince of 
Wales at Carnarvon Castle; the governor 
wrote me something about it. Say, wasn’t 
that ripping that we ran into him? ” 

“ Never saw you so bally excited before. 
Dob,” said Roger. Why, you jumped clean 
off your base.” 


EN VOYAGE 


243 


I thought he had gone crazy/^ Greenapple 
muttered. I don’t see how you do it.” 

Do what? ” demanded Dobson. 

“ Get so excited.” 

Well, it was the king, you know, and the 
Prince of Wales,” Dobson said, as if that was 
ample reason to account for his behavior. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


GKEENAPPLE SEES THINGS 

During the night the Kate lost sight of the 
brigantine, and when morning dawned, she 
was nowhere to be seen. 

Must have stood on up north, Captain 
Dobbs said. I thought she were bound fur 
Birkenhead, same as we.’^ 

The run to Birkenhead was against head 
winds all the way, and it was forty-seven hours 
after leaving Holyhead before the Kate entered 
the Mersey, and two hours later tied up at 
the inner dock of Liverpool’s little sister, 
Birkenhead. 

The good-byes to Captain Dobbs and his 
crew were said, and without wait, the boys 
took train for Hatherly Court, only about 
thirty miles away. The nearest station to the 
Dobson country seat was Braich-y-pwll ( don’t 
try to pronounce it, reader), and as Dobson 
had wired ahead to his people informing them 
of the time of his arrival, the visitors found 
waiting for them a comfortable little '' wagon- 


GREENAPPLE SEES THINGS 


245 


ette/’ in charge of a liveried coachman, who 
touched his hat respectfully, as he espied 
Dobson. 

’Ere you are. Master Tommy! ” he called 

out. 

Hello, Hodges,” rejoined the scion of the 
house of Dobson. Come on, you fellows; 
Hodges will take us home.” 

To Roger, the drive was famihar; he had spent 
many a hohday at Hatherly Court, but to 
Greenapple, everything was new. 

It’s all right around here,” was his com- 
ment, as he gazed at the grand scenery; it 
reminds me very much of northern Penn- 
sylvania, except that it isn’t spoiled by the 
wretched little mining camps.” 

Wait till you see Dob’s ranch; he’s got 
the bulliest place going; no end of fishing and 
shooting, eh. Dob? ” 

Rather,” acquiesced Dobson, if only 
old Giles will let us do what we want to; he’s 
getting more peevish every year.” 

‘‘ Who’s old Giles? ” asked Greenapple. 

“ He’s the keeper; he’s the third generation 
of his family to hold the job.” 

What does he keep? ” 

Why — why, he looks after things — looks 
after the game and fishing and all that sort 
of thing, you know.” 


246 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


'' Oh, that’s what you call a keeper, is it? 
Hired man, eh? ” 

'' Well, yes, he’s hired, as you say, but I 
rather think old Giles considers himself as much 
a part of Hatherly as the trees which grow 
there. His father and grandfather were keep- 
ers there before him, you know.” 

Couldn’t very well have been after him,” 
agreed Greenapple, in his dry way. 

At the lodge that marked the entrance to 
Hatherly Court the boys descended from their 
conveyance, and after a hearty welcome from 
the lodge keeper, started to walk up the broad, 
winding drive that led to the mansion. 

Who’s that? ” suddenly demanded Green- 
apple, stopping and wheeling about. 

What? Where? ” cried his companions. 

“ Thought I saw that same fellow I’ve 
noticed twice since we left the ship; I’m pretty 
sure I saw him at the railway station, and then 
I thought I saw him again now — looked like 
a chap used to hang around a billiard joint 
back in Hamenchelt.” 

You mean Dutton’s place? ” asked Roger. 

Yes. I know it’s out of bounds; I don’t 
go any more, but I dropped in once or twice 
when I first came to college.” 

And you imagine one of Dutton’s loafers 
was hanging around these parts? Oh, you’re 


GREENAPPLE SEES THINGS 247 

off, Green, we’re a couple of hundred miles 
from Hamenchelt.” 

Guess I must have been mistaken; it looked 
like him, though.” 

The boy, followed by his companions, ran 
back a few yards, and glanced down the drive. 
The lodge keeper was just closing the big iron 
gates. Not another soul was in sight. 

Still, if it was any one spying on me, they 
could have slipped away into this park without 
any trouble,” Greenapple observed. 

What should any one want to spy on you 
for? ” asked Dobson. 

I don’t know any reason, but — well, I 
could almost swear I’ve been followed since 
I left the brig.” 

“ Oh, you’re dreaming. Green; look, there’s 
Dob’s place,” Roger said. 

Sir Henry Dobson was away on duty at the 
War Office in London, but Lady Dobson was 
home, and soon the boys were receiving her 
warm welcome. The Dobsons kept home in 
the real old English style. Their seat, dating 
back some three and a half centuries, was a 
low, rambling mansion, built, after a rather 
pretty conceit of the time, in the form of a 
letter E, in honor of England’s virgin queen, 
good Bess. One of the former Dobsons had 
rather spoiled the letter, but considerably added 


248 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

to the comfort of the place by adding a long 
circular extension to the back of the E, and the 
present owner, young Dobson^s father, had 
further improved it by adding bathrooms, 
electric lights and a heating plant, so that the 
residence was now about as comfortable as one 
could well find. It was ideally situated in the 
midst of the towering Welsh mountains, and 
old Snowdon, the tallest peak in all England, 
raised his cloud-enveloped head only thirty 
miles away to the south. Rushing mountain 
streams raced through the estate, leaving behind 
them quiet eddies and pools, where the game 
brook trout loved to lurk, forming an ideal 
paradise for the angler; and over this paradise 
old Giles, the keeper, kept jealous guard. Rab- 
bits, grouse and quail made their home in the 
woods and forest lands on the north, for long 
years of careful, judicious handling had made 
the preserves of Hatherly Court famous through 
all North Wales. It was to this fine specimen 
of the old English manor that Dobson had 
brought his two guests to enjoy the holidays. 
To Roger, the place was almost as familiar 
as to his chum, but to Greenapple, each hour 
unfolded some unexpected charm. 

Lady Dobson, a snowy-haired lady, soon 
made the new boy feel at home, and her son, 
intent only on his duties as host, exerted him- 


GREENAPPLE SEES THINGS 


249 


self to the utmost to provide a good time for 
every hour of their stay. They shot, they 
fished, and took long rambles over the heather 
and thistle-clad hills, returning to the Court 
with appetites that would have been the de- 
spair of any boarding-house keeper. There is 
a delicious freedom about an English country 
house. The dinner is the only function for 
which one must dress. 

The first day or so was spent in rambles 
close around the old mansion and its adjacent 
grounds, and then their activities took on a 
wider range. Awheel, they went to Bangor, 
and saw the great tubular bridge that spans 
Menia Straits, a typical British structure of 
stone and steel connecting the Welsh mainland 
with the isle of Anglesee. They visited the 
big suspension bridge; they went to Conway 
Castle, where the muddy Conway River washes 
its ancient, mouldering stones, and there they 
saw the bloodstains that still mark the place 
(at least, they are pointed out as such) where 
the unfortunate young prince was murdered 
by his rascally uncle. 

It was while riding back from Conway that 
the first reference to the unfortunate flagstaff 
affair was made. It was Greenapple who spoke 
of it. Without any apparent cause, he blurted 
out: 


250 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ When I get back to Henley I’m going to 
make it my business to find out who cut that 
pole down; just see if I don’t.” 

The words were savagely spoken, in true old 
Greenapple style, and his companions, as they 
pedaled along beside him, glanced up quickly. 
They rode along for some distance, and then 
Roger promised : 

I’ll help you. Green, help you all I can.” 

So’ll I,” swore Dobson, with vehemence. 

I’d just like to find out who did the dirty 
trick.” 

You’re still both of you quite dead sure 
that I didn’t do it? ” questioned the former 
suspected one. 

“ Green,” said Dobson earnestly, if I had 
the least doubt on that point, I promise you 
I haven’t now.” 

All the same,” went on Roger, you know, 
it would be a whole lot of satisfaction to Green 
if he could put the thing on the shoulders where 
it belongs.” 

That’s it,” agreed Greenapple savagely; 

that’s what I’m going to do. Wait until I 
get back — watch me.” 

“ Well, let’s forget all about it while we’re 
up with Dob; we mustn’t spoil the holiday by 
thinking about it.” 

I’m not going to bother my head about it 


GREENAPPLE SEES THINGS 


251 


up here, but seeing that pole over there at that 
hotel made me think of the school flagstaff 
again. Fll get the loafers yet, see if I don’t.'^ 
The old savage look was back on the boy’s 
face again, and Roger was on the point of 
changing the subject, when Greenapple sud- 
denly shouted: Look there! There he is 

again! ” 

Who, who? ” demanded the two boys. 

That same fellow who spied on me at the 
railway station and in the park. Look, he’s 
in that hotel entrance — he and another chap.” 

Greenapple was off his wheel by this time, 
and making his way into the roadside hostelry. 
The two figures he had pointed out disappeared 
as he entered, and though the boys spent half 
an hour with him endeavoring to again see the 
mysterious strangers, their search was vain. 
The hotel was filled with holiday makers, but 
not one of the many they passed looked like 
the men Greenapple claimed had so persist- 
ently and secretly dogged his footsteps. 

I think. Green, it’s simply a case of ^ seeing 
things,’ ” joked Dobson. 

No, it isn’t,” declared his guest. There’s 
something here I can’t quite make out; wish 
I could get near enough to the loafers to see 
what they look like.” 


CHAPTER XXIX 


A VISIT TO LANBERRIS 

The holidays drew swiftly to a close — too 
swiftly, for it was very pleasant amid the su- 
perb scenery, and with all the comforts of 
Hatherly Court. But Henley was now looming 
only forty-eight hours away, and that forty- 
eight hours going with the speed of an express. 
The long grind to the end of the summer term 
would soon commence, and then good-by to 
Henley, for this was both Roger^s and Dobson^s 
last term at college. The army would swallow 
up the younger son of the house of Dobson, and 
Roger would join his father in India. Green- 
apple would go on to Oxford, and there take his 
degree; he said so himself, so there could be no 
doubt about the latter part of the program. 

Before leaving for college, the three boys 
paid a visit to the home of their schoolmate. 
Jack Maxwell, at Lanberris, some thirty miles 
to the south. 

Jack used to be quite a handful, but he^s 
steadier now, and getting through college in 
record time. You must remember him. Green; 


A VISIT TO LANBERRIS 


253 


he^s the fastest hundred-yards man we have. 
I shall always remember the way he cut the 
running out for me in that open mile last year, 
eh, Dob? ” 

'' Rather,^^ chimed in Dobson. You should 
have seen that. Green. Greatest thing ever. 
Yank, here, was up against three other public 
school chaps, and Max stayed in to make the 
running for him. By jinks, he took you along, 
didn’t he, Yank, and then curled up and dropped 
out at half distance.” 

Yes, he ran the Eton fellow ten yards ahead 
of me, and then quit, and left him there, and 
all I had to do was to run him down.” 

That was all,” repeated Dobson signifi- 
cantly, and you did it, too, did it by twelve 
inches. By Jove, what a finish! Nearly gave 
me heart failure. But you know, my sweet 
Green, Yank, here, didn’t inveigle us over to 
Lanberris in order to shake hands with Jack 
Maxwell — don’t for one moment imagine that. 
Let me tell that Jack Maxwell has two — ” 

Oh, shut up. Dob, don’t make an ass of 
yourself,” broke in Roger. 

Has two fair sisters, and Yank is dead 
stuck on — ” 

Will you shut up, you silly beggar,” again 
interrupted Roger, making a sudden lunge at 
his teasing chum. 


254 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


“ — On Irene. Watch ^em close, Green, or 
you’ll never be able to tell them apart, for 
they’re twins, and as much alike as two peas.” 

Roger made a sudden dive at the tormentor, 
who dodged, and resumed from the safe retreat 
of an old elm: 

Yank’s the only fellow in the county 
who can tell the difference between them — 
whoop, missed again, Yank! Here, this side,” 
and the grinning Dobson dodged around the 
tree. Quite a romantic affair, you know,” 
he went on, wagging his finger at Roger, who 
was jumping first one side, then the other, in 
an endeavor to capture the boy. Met ’em 
first up Snowdon; they were lost and — ah, 
ah, not that time, my worthy Yank — and we 
found ’em, and another time we saved their 
hat for them at Llandudno , and — ” 

Oh, yes, we saved their hat all right,” 
agreed Roger, watching his opportunity to 
capture. Dob saved their hat all right, and 
lost everything else, barring honor, didn’t you. 
Dob? You should have seen that hat after 
he finished jumping on it.” 

Well it was going over the cliff if I hadn’t 
stopped it, and I did save it, anyway,” asserted 
Dobson, peering cautiously out from one side. 

“ Oh, you saved it all right, and handed it 
back to her in bits.” 


A VISIT TO LANBERRIS 


255 


And next,” the truthful recorder resumed, 
next her horse ran away with her last Christ- 
mas, and Yank nearly broke his neck trying 
to catch the beast. Did it, too; ITl give the 
chap credit for that, and now he^s — ” 

Got you, you beggar! ” yelled Roger tri- 
umphantly, getting a grip on the teaser, who 
had become incautious as he talked. Now, 
then, will you close your mouth? ” 

And Yank^s sweet — sweet — sweet — on 
— on — Irene,” gurgled Dobson, in a last 
effort to make known his story, as his chum’s 
hand closed over his mouth. 

“ Shut up! Shut up! ” commanded Roger. 
He’s talking a lot of rot. Green. We’re just 
going over to Lanberris because Mr. Maxwell 
invited us when we met him last Christmas, and 
to see Jack.” 

All right,” agreed Dobson, catching his 
breath again; I’ll tell the twins that, just as 
soon as we get over there, see if I don’t. Tell 
’em you didn’t come to see them at all — just 
their brother.” 

You do — you do. You make any more 
cracks like only you are capable of doing, and 
I’ll crack you, see if I don’t, my beauty,” was 
Roger’s last threat, as he relinquished his 
hold on his chum. 

Well,” commented Greenapple, who had 


256 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


been a silent, interested spectator of the banter; 

I see the captain will bear watching; didn’t 
know you were a ladies’ man, Jackson.” 

The three arrived at Lanberris soon after 
noon on the last day of the holidays, and 
received a hearty welcome from the Maxwells. 

I would suggest,” said Mr. Maxwell, 

that we all of us go out to the glen and 
falls; it is a magnificent day, and there is no 
prettier sight in all Wales than the Swallow 
Falls.” 

“ Yes, and take our tea-basket along with 
us,” the girls approved. 

And I’ll wear a white ribbon and Irene 
a red one, so that Mr. Greenapple may not 
address me as Irene and Irene as me,” ob- 
served one of the young ladies. 

Did I do that? ” asked Greenapple. I’ll 
be careful and make no more mistakes. Miss 
Irene.” 

'' I’m not Miss Irene; I’m Marjorie,” dis- 
claimed the one addressed. 

Well, perhaps you had better wear the 
ribbons, then,” conceded the bewildered boy. 

Thirty minutes later a merry party were 
bowling along the Carnarvon Road in the 
Maxwell touring car. About them on every 
side loomed the great mountains of gray slate 
and mottled marble, intermixed with riotous 


A VISIT TO LANBERRIS 


257 


coloring of purple heather and heliotrope thistle, 
with here and there splashes of silver where 
some rushing stream leaped and gamboled 
down the steep mountain sides. Dense masses 
of sombre forests edged in by rough stone walls 
between which the hard macadam road threaded 
its way in tortuous windings. 

The twins, two good-looking specimens of 
the British school girl, with cheeks which 
flamed with perfect health and told eloquently 
of long rambles on their native mountains, 
were the best of companions. Mr. and Mrs. 
Maxwell were ideal chaperons, and the boys, 
the j oiliest of boys. 

At a little hut half a mile from the falls the 
party left their motor in charge of the rustic 
there, and proceeded afoot, carrying their all- 
important tea-basket. A winding foot- 
path led toward their goal. On one side rose 
sheer up the slabs of marble and slate; on the 
left, the stream leaped rock and boulder and 
circled in quiet, backwater eddies, while pres- 
ently a continuously increasing thunder told 
they were approaching the far-famed falls. 

Nature has not shown herself on such a 
gigantic scale in the little islands as in the great 
West. In the British Isles she is beautiful, 
soft, grand, if you will, but not on the immense 
plan she displays in the Western Hemisphere. 


258 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


The charm of British scenery is peculiarly its 
own; wonderfully restful and soothing; a 
place where one may sit and dream and dream, 
lulled by the soft ripple of water and moan 
of breeze, unpestered by the curse of insect 
life that here so often robs the outdoor of its 
charms. 

On the soft moss the party spread their 
snowy tablecloth, weighting it down at the cor- 
ners with slabs of slate, while the ladies busied 
themselves with the little silver spirit lamp 
and teapot. Soon the odors of fragrant tea 
were wafted on the breeze, and the picnickers 
sat around to enjoy that pre-eminently British 
function, — afternoon tea in the open air. 

It was new to Greenapple. Heretofore his 
life had been spent amid more or less conten- 
tion ; amid struggle, turmoil and excitement. He 
had seen little of the finer side of human life, 
little of that nicety and polish that at Henley 
went under the name of form,’’ and w^hich 
the world calls “ refinement.” Here, around 
the tea-basket, on the green velvety turf, with 
the lull of the waterfall soothing every nerve, 
and the low-toned musical conversation of the 
picnickers, he seemed to be breathing a different 
air. With every breath he seemed to be in- 
haling quietness, contentment and peace. He 
flung his hands behind his head, lay back on 


A VISIT TO LANBERRIS 


259 


the turf in lazy contentment, and listened to 
the even tones of Mr. Maxwell as he recounted 
some of the old Welsh history connected with 
the spot on which they sat. 


CHAPTER XXX 

THE WHISPERING ROCK 

These old castles/^ Mr. Maxwell was 
saying, are all mute witnesses of the history 
of Wales. Carnarvon, where the king’s son 
is invested with the titles and orders of the 
Prince of Wales, Conway, which you visited 
only the other day, and Criccarth, have all 
seen most stirring deeds and listened to the 
Welsh battle-cry. We are all familiar with 
The March of the Men of Harlech. Mrs. Maxwell 
could recite it to you in the original Welsh; 
it is much more stirring in that, for it has lost 
a lot by Oxenford’s translation. Those lines 
were, as you know, inspired by Dafydd ap 
Ivan ap Einion’s defense of Harlech Castle. 
^ I have held a castle in France until all the 
old women of Wales have heard of it,’ he 
boasted, ^ and now I will hold a castle in Wales, 
until all the old women of France have heard 
of it.’ You know the last line of the verses; 
‘ Cambria ne’er can yield.’ ” 


THE WHISPERING ROCK 261 

“ It did yield, though, did it not? ” perti- 
nently inquired Roger. 

Yes,’' Mr. Maxwell admitted, they 

starved Dafydd out at last. Edward I built 
most of these old castles when he invaded 
Wales. They were erected for the purpose of 
overawing his new subjects, but most of them 
passed back at different times into the hands 
of the Welshmen.” 

“ I know the tune well enough, but not the 
words of that March of Harlechf^ observed 
Greenapple. 

It is surprising how little the words are 
known,” commented Mrs. Maxwell. Every 
one knows the tune, but so few the words. 
Irene, dear, can you not recite them for 
us?” 

Jack knows them — you do it. Jack,” 
suggested the young lady, whereupon young 
Maxwell, with considerable spirit, gave the 
famous lines. 

“ Men of Harlech, march to glory, 

Victory is hovering o’er ye, 

Bright-eyed freedom stands before ye, 

Hear ye not her call? 

At your sloth she seems to wonder, 

Rend the sluggish bonds asunder. 

Let the war-cry’s deafening thunder 
Every foe appal. 

Echoes loudly waking. 

Hill and valley shaking; 


262 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Till the sound spreads loud around, 
The Saxon’s courage breaking; 
Your foes on every side assailing, 
Forward press with heart unfailing. 
Till invaders learn with quaihng 
Cambria ne’er can yield.” 


I^U recite the other verse/^ volunteered 
Miss Marjorie, her enthusiasm rising at the 
recital of the stirring ballad : 

“ Thou who noble Cambria wrongest. 

Know that freedom’s cause is strongest, 

Freedom’s courage lasts the longest, 

Ending but with death! 

Freedom, countless hosts can scatter, 

Freedom, stoutest mail can shatter, 

Freedom, thickest walls can batter. 

Fate is in her breath. 

See, they are now flying. 

Heaped are dead and dying! 

Over might hath triumphed right. 

Our land to foes denying; 

Upon their soil we never sought them. 

But this lesson we have taught them, 

Cambria ne’er can jdeld.” 


Bravo! Bravo!’’ cried the listeners, clap- 
ping their hands. 

Sounds like a Fourth of July poem,” 
suggested Greenapple. Why, what was that, 
thunder? ” 

I believe it was,” confirmed Mrs. Maxwell. 

I heard it before,” said her husband, but 


THE WHISPERING ROCK 


263 


I thought it was the blasting in the slate quar- 
ries. I expect we had better return to the car 
and get home.’’ 

They reached the motor not a moment too 
soon, for scarcely had they secured the leather 
curtains, and made snug the inside, when down 
came the storm with a flare of lightning, a 
crash of thunder, and a perfect deluge of rain. 

It won’t last long,” Mr. Maxwell prophe- 
sied, but we may as well start for home. We 
will take the Torrent Road, through the Fairy 
Glen — Jack, jump out and crank.” 

Poor me! ” cried the son, I’m always it 
That’s the trouble with being the only boy 
and having two sisters; have you got it to 
^ magneto,’ father? ” 

Yes, yes. Put the inverness on and you 
won’t know it’s raining.” 

Young Maxwell made a dive out into the 
pouring rain, wrestled with the crank-bar a 
moment, and then scrambled back inside again. 

The car sped away. The thunder was echo- 
ing and vibrating from peak to peak. The 
vivid flashes were almost continuous; the 
road already awash from the downpour, and 
through it all the great touring car rushed, 
sending out on either side a deluge of mud and 
water. Inside, however, all was dry and com- 
fortable. 


264 HENLETS AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


The storm soon passed, and brilliant sunshine 
succeeded the black clouds. The curtains were 
rolled up, and along the Torrent Road toward 
the Fairy Glen bowled the big car. At the glen 
they again left the motor, and proceeded south 
toward the home of the fairies. 

Come along. Green, what are you waiting 
for? urged Dobson. 

I could swear some one was following us 
along through there,’’ Greenapple said, point- 
ing to the foliage. 

“ Say, old man, I believe you are getting 
nervous,” Roger joked. That’s the third 
or fourth time you thought some one was 
stagging us. It’s the sun shining through the 
trees, and the shadows formed there that you 
see.” 

Greenapple continued gazing for a moment, 
then he resumed the walk and caught up with 
the rest of the party. 

I could swear there was some one there,” 
he persisted. If I get that idea any more 
I’ll get a dash in.” 

“ I scarcely think you need be worried 
about anything of that kind,” Mr. Maxwell 
assured the boy. “ This Welsh country is 
almost free from evil-doers; we are in the most 
crimeless district of all England and Wales.” 

They were in the glen by this time. A hun- 


THE WHISPERING ROCK 265 

dred yards ahead of them the httle road forked, 
a bridle path going to the right and left around 
huge slabs of marble. 

This is the whispering rock,^^ Mr. Maxwell 
informed the boys. Now, if you will go to 
the right, Roger, and your friend, Mr. Green- 
apple to the left, although separated by this 
mountain of marble, you will be able to hear 
each other^s voice, though you only speak 
in whispers.” 

Go ahead. Green. I’ll take right, you left. 
How far shall we go, Mr. Maxwell? ” 

Oh, just until you are out of sight — a 
hundred yards or so, and then you whisper to 
Mr. Greenapple. He will hear distinctly, 
and reply. We will await your return here; it 
is an old story with us.” 

The two boys disappeared to right and left, 
the rest of the party seating themselves and 
waiting. 

Five, ten, fifteen minutes elapsed, and then 
Roger came in sight. 

Well,” Dobson hailed, “ did you hear him? ” 

No,” came back the shout, I didn’t hear 
a thing. I whispered and whispered and even 
called aloud, but Green didn’t answer. I 
believe you’re having a joke with us, are you 
not, sir? ” ^ 

No, no, my boy,” Mr. Maxwell assured 


266 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


him. It was no joke. That is one of the most 
wonderful whispering galleries in the British 
Isles; your friend must have gone too far or 
not far enough. 

I should think he went too far, judging 
by the length of time he is taking to get back,’^ 
Mrs. Maxwell said. 

Dobson put his hand to his mouth, and made 
the glen ring with his hail: Oh, Green — 
Green — come along back; we^re waiting for 
you.'' 

Only the echo was his answer, his shout 
traveling around and around with lessening 
power. 

Green — Green," he bellowed again. 

Come 'long — it's getting dark — Green, 
Green! " 

Green, Green," the echo mocked. 

Let's walk up and meet him," suggested 
Jack Maxwell. You folks go back to the car, 
and we'll overtake you at a trot. You have 
the lamps to light. Governor; it will be dark 
in half an hour." 

Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, with their daughters, 
started toward the road, and the three boys 
walked briskly up the glen in the direction 
their chum had taken. 

Wonder where the beggar's gone to," 
mused Jack Maxwell, as they turned into a 


THE WHISPERING ROCK 


267 


sweeping crescent of rocks, where the distance 
lay plain before them for half a mile. 

<< Why, he’s not in sight! Where the dickens 
can he have gone? ” exclaimed Roger. 

Well, here’s the whispering niche; see the 
sign? ” Dobson pointed out. 

Yes, and look — why, by Jove, here’s his 
hat 1 Why, why — ” 

Roger and his two companions stood stock- 
still staring at Greenapple’s Panama hat! 


CHAPTER XXXI 


FOTJL PLAY 

All of them knew it well. The missing boy 
had sent to London and obtained it. He had 
shown it to them all when it first arrived, and 
had worn it almost constantly except when he 
was aboard the yacht. 

Well, what in thunder did he fling that 
thing down here for, and go on away? cried 
Maxwell, picking up the headgear. 

“ I suppose he took it off when he put his 
head inside the little hole to hear me,^^ Roger 
suggested. But where can he have gone to? ” 

Let^s raise a yell altogether.’^ 

With a mighty shout all three boys made 
their voices reverberate through the glen : 

Green — Green — Green! ” 

“ Green, Green, Green,” mocked back the 
circle of rocks. 

Hello, hello, hello!” again yelled the 
Henley lads. 

'' Hello, hello, hello,” jeered back the glen. 

Why, he must hear that!” exclaimed Roger. 

'' Look here! ” cried Maxwell, suddenly lean- 


FOUL PLAY 


269 


ing over and picking up something. — '' Why, 
it’s a part of a watch-chain; why, it’s Green- 
apple’s; it has that charm he always carries — 
that shield with the stripes and httle stars in 
enamel.” 

Roger had snatched the charm from his 
companion. 

That is his! ” he cried. “ See, it’s broken! 
Why, something must have happened to Green 
— scatter out, you chaps; hunt around; he 
must have met with some accident.” 

The three Henleyites searched far and near. 
They scrambled up the marble slabs; they 
scoured the dense woods on their left; they 
raced around the glen, and circled the whisper- 
ing rocks. Not a sign of Greenapple was to 
be seen. Then they stopped and stood staring 
at one another. It was nearly dark now. In 
the distance they heard Mr. Maxwell’s voice, 
calling them to return. 

Yell back and tell him, Dob; you have the 
loudest voice,” Roger said. 

Hello,” Dobson bellowed. We can’t 
find Greenapple anywhere.” 

I’ll sprint back and tell him; he can’t 
understand,” Jack Maxwell cried, and disap- 
peared in the fast-gathering night, leaving 
Roger and his chum gazing at one another in 
bewilderment. 


270 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

“ Suppose anything can have happened to 
him? You know he’s been fancying he’s seen 
chaps following him for the last three weeks 
or so,” Dobson half questioned. 

It begins to look fishy,” Roger admitted. 

They kept shouting now and again, so that 
if Greenapple had wandered off and become lost, 
he might know their direction, but only the 
echoes jeered back at them. 

Young Maxwell and his father arrived in a 
few minutes, the latter carrying one of the rear 
oil lamps from the motor. 

You are sure that is his hat? ” demanded 
the elder man. 

“Yes, sir, certain; we all know it, and this 
is his chain, too; there’s no doubt about it.” 

“ Well, the inference is, then, that some 
evilly-disposed person has been up to mischief. 
You say he has been under the impression 
that some one has been following him lately? ” 

“ Yes, sir, he’s been constantly thinking 
that, but neither Dob nor I ever saw any one; 
we thought it was his imagination.” 

Mr. Maxwell was examining the chain by 
the light of the lamp. 

“ Yes, this has been broken; see, the links 
are wrenched, and only a part of the chain is 
here; the swivel is missing. It begins to look 
as if there had been attempted robbery here. 


FOUL PLAY 


271 


We can do little or nothing in the darkness; we 
must get back at once to Lanberris and appeal 
to the police. Dear me, why, the thing is 
scarcely conceivable! Let us examine the 
ground aroimd here a httle more carefully 
before we go. Jack, run back and tell your 
mother and the girls we shall be there in a few 
minutes; they will be getting uneasy at our 
long delay.” 

Again young Maxwell sped away into the 
darkness, while the elder man and the two boys 
resumed the search. 

Nothing further was discovered, and all 
attempts to locate Greenapple were vain. 
The party was just on the point of abandoning 
the search when Dobson shouted: 

Look, there’s been some kind of a scrap 
here! See!” He held the lamp, and pointed 
to where the dense brambles just a little off 
the road had been broken and trampled down. 
Mr. Maxwell and Roger at once got down on their 
hands and knees and made a thorough search. 

“ Here; here is some part of his cuff or some- 
thing; it has his link still in it.” 

It was indeed the greater part of Greenapple’s 
cuff, with the gold link button still hanging 
to one side, which Roger had discovered. 

That settles it, then,” Mr. Maxwell said; 

we must get assistance at once.” 


272 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

Why not follow him up right here and 
now? demanded Roger. 

“ It would be utterly useless without a guide. 
We should only lose ourselves and much pre- 
cious time. The country is very wild around 
here. Come, hurry, let us return at once to 
the car, and get back to Lanberris.’’ 

Half reluctantly, the two boys followed, 
meeting Jack Maxwell on his way to rejoin 
them again. 

“ Get on to something? he called. 

No, we must go to town and get the police; 
we can return in an hour or so.^^ 

“ Isn’t it the strangest thing; why, what 
can it mean. Dad? ” 

It is a case of robbery, I should say.’’ 

Well, then, why did they take Greenapple 
off? ” objected Dobson. 

Yes, that’s it,” chimed in Roger. If 
it was a hold-up, they would have left Green.” 

’Ron my word,” declared the elder man, 
“ I scarcely know what to think.” 

They reached the car at a brisk walk. The 
lamps were already lit. Jack Maxwell cranked 
up and sprang into the front seat beside his 
father. Now, hit her up. Dad! ” he shouted, 
and off into the night bowled the motor. 

Mr. Maxwell advanced his spark, and the 
car dashed away Lanberrisward. 


CHAPTER XXXII 


THE POLICE 

The county police inspector at Lanberris 
was incredulous, almost unbelieving at first, 
when Mr. Maxwell explained the mysterious 
disappearance. 

The boy has probably wandered off and 
got lost,^^ he suggested. 

But that would not explain the broken 
watch-chain. Why leave his hat behind him? 
How do you account for the evidence of the 
struggle we saw there? Mr. Maxwell argued. 

The inspector, a short, stout little man, sat 
stroking his chin a moment, then he inquired : 

“ Will you lend me your car to run out there 
in, sir? 

Certainly, and I and the boys will come 
with you, too, but I must first run home and 
drop Mrs. Maxwell and my daughters.^’ 

The inspector went out with Mr. Maxwell, 
and glanced at the car. 

Do the boys know how to run it? ’’ he asked. 

Oh, yes, my son does.’^ 


274 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

“ And there’s enough petrol and all that sort 
of thing, so it won’t stop, and the lamps won’t 
go out? ” 

No; everything’s all ready, and the car 
will run for a hundred miles or more.” 

The fore door of the car was open. The in- 
spector stepped briskly toward it. What’s 
that bit of white paper there? ” he demanded, 
pointing to a crumpled piece, wedged in by the 
mat. 

“ I don’t know. It’s nothing of mine. Let 
us be starting as soon as possible, inspector,” 
Mr. Maxwell urged impatiently. 

The officer seized the little crumpled piece 
of paper. By the light from the forward lamp he 
read it eagerly. “ Where’d it come from? ” 
he demanded, thrusting it into Mr. Maxwell’s 
hand. Read it, sir.” 

Rapidly Mr. Maxwell ran his eyes over the 
scrawled words: 

“ Sir,” he read, If you wants to see this 
yankee kid again, you put a bag with £1000 
in it in the wispering hole. Put it in to night 
or tomorrow, and dont bring no cops with you 
neither. Have the thousand in sovs — no bank 
notes. His governor will give you the boodle 
back and you wont lose nothing. If the quids 
aint there by tomorrow night we will cut his 


THE POLICE 


275 


blasted yankee throat, and chuck his body 
in the river. As soon as we gets the cash we 
will turn the kid loose without doing him no 
harm. You act square with us and we will 
act square with you, but if you tries any moon 
shine business the kids a gone un. Remember 
in the wispering hole £1000 in sovs by to- 
morrow night, and the kid will be home before 
morning. Yom- Bill Breakbounds.^’ 

Why, it’s a case of abduction — of kid- 
naping; what do you think of this, inspector? ” 

How did they put that thing on your car 
without you seeing it? ” demanded the officer. 

Let me see — Ah, then it must have been 
placed there when we were all absent; yes, 
yes, see, inspector, it is written in ink. It must 
have been prepared previously, and then left 
in the car when we were all away, and before 
they captured young Greenapple.” 

Young what, sir? ” 

Greenapple; that’s his name.” 

Is his father rich? ” 

Very, so I am told. He is the son of an 
American millionaire.” 

The inspector whistled. 

So! Then I put it down to a case of kid- 
naping.” 

You must act with caution. Nothing must 


276 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


happen to the boy. Perhaps we had better 
accede to their demands; far better lose the 
money than have the boy murdered.^’ 

TheyTl not murder him, sir. They want 
the money, not his body, and in my opinion, 
that method of coughing up hush money is 
contrary to the spirit of British law. I donT 
like it; it comes pretty close to compounding 
a felony.” 

Well, what^s your advice? ” 

I shall strike while the iron^s hot, sir. 
You go home and get some rest for an hour or 
so, and 111 arrange my plans. In a few hours 
I’ll be ready; meanwhile I want to talk to the 
boys. They know him, and may be able to 
help me.” 

Oh, I cannot rest; I shall remain here,” 
declared Mr. Maxwell. 

The fat little inspector was a busy man for 
the next few hours. 

Dobson telegraphed home to Hatherly Court, 
detailing the startling events of the evening, and 
telling Lady Dobson he and Roger would re- 
main over night at Lanberris with Mr. Maxwell. 

Night, starry and moonlit, lay upon Lan- 
berris, when some hours later four men and 
three youths climbed into the Maxwell car, 
and sped away toward the great Welsh moun- 
tain. The roads were still sloppy from the 


THE POLICE 


277 


recent storm. In defiance of county by-laws, 
the car carried no lights, but none were needed, 
for the road lay almost brilliant in the moon- 
light before them. Mr. Maxwell and the in- 
spector occupied the front seat, while the three 
boys and two stalwart constables were in the 
tonneau. One of the policemen carried a some- 
what bulky black bag. It was evidently of 
some weight, for as he swung it before him into 
the car, it landed with a dull, metallic thud. 
The officer winked knowingly at Dobson, as 
the boy wriggled it back under the seat with 
his feet. 

All ready? demanded Mr. Maxwell, in 
quiet tones. 

The policeman closed the door. “ All ready, 
sir,^^ he said. Mr. Maxwell advanced the spark, 
and almost noiselessly the car sped away. 
Every detail but one had been arranged. There 
remained little to do but act. 

The inspector swung around as soon as the 
little town was left behind, and addressed one 
of the boys in the darkness of the tonneau. 

“You see. Master Jackson,’’ he said, “ there’s 
little or no risk you’re taking. There’ll be 
no one on watch — not yet. They will not be 
expecting us till the early morning, supposing 
that we won’t be able to get the cash till then. 
So, then, this is what you’ll do. You’ll get 


278 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


out of the car when we stop, and youll walk 
along for a mile until you get to the whispering 
hole, and you’ll put the bag quietly in there, 
and then you’ll turn about and walk as if you 
were going away, so that if any of the gang are 
watching, they’ll see you making off, but as 
soon as you get to the spot where the two 
paths divide, you’ll shp to the left and hide 
there — hide and hsten, young man. If you 
hear nothing and make sure that none of them 
have seen you, then crawl back till you find 
a spot where you can watch that whispering 
hole; a spot where you can’t be spotted, though. 
There’s no denying that you have the hardest 
nut to crack, and now comes the time to get the 
crackers out. You’ll wait there and watch, 
and watch, and watch. Don’t go to sleep now, 
young man, but keep both your eyes peeled, 
and in the morning, just as sure as there’s sin 
in this world, they’ll come sneaking up to see 
if anything’s in that hole or not. ’Tis human 
nature, that is. Even though they’ve been 
watching all night and seen no one come, just 
the same, natural curiosity as killed the poor 
cat, will make ’em want to peep in^^that hole 
and see if anything is there.” 

Roger was listening very attentively, biting 
his lips as the inspector spoke. It was a nervous 
trick he had; it betrayed no weakness, but 


THE POLICE 


279 


only intense concentration. Dobson, sitting 
beside his chum, with his expressionless, British 
bulldog face, was wishing he had the job. 

Now supposing they do see you come,” 
the police officer continued, youVe got to 
make ^em think that you go away; that^s just 
what youVe got to do. That^s where your 
smartness will come in. I could,” the inspector 
waved a hand towards his two constables, I 
could send one of these, but youVe got just 
the make-up for the job, and you ought to be 
able to turn the trick. You can think quick. 
That^s why I was asking you those questions 
to-night in my office. You can travel smart, 
too, so they tell me, and that may come in 
handy.” 

Roger made no reply, and the officer went on: 

Now, everything's been arranged. You 
know where we are all posted. Just as soon as 
any of them come sneaking out to take their 
peep into that hole — and mind you, young 
man, theyVe got to come sooner or later if 
they want to get the coin, then you stag him. 
Understand, stag him.” 

You mean I must follow and he mustn’t 
see me? ” 

That’s what I do. You’ll do just as I 
told you back there in the office. You’ll put 
your finger on the button, and that’ll give us 


280 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


all the tip down there under the bridge on the 
road, and then you’ll stag him, following him 
up and never losing sight of him, but be sure 
you keep dropping the scraps of paper so we 
can pick up your trail, and that ought to take 
you and us straight in to where they got this 
young gent — this — this — hang me, I never 
can remember his name.” 

Greenapple,” Roger filled in. 

To be sure, to be sure, Greenapple.” 

Roger’s hand involuntarily went to the strap 
around his shoulder, and his fingers played 
nervously with the torn scraps of paper which 
reposed in the bag. 

All right,” he comprehended briefly. This 
is going to be something like a paper chase, 
eh? ” 

The motor came slowly to a stop. 

Here is the place,” Mr. Maxwell an- 
nounced softly. Now, Roger,” he continued, 
addressing the American boy, as soon as 
you get the wire arranged, test it by pressing 
the button and getting our response; then you 
will be sure we are in touch with you, and after 
that all you have to do, if you want us, is to 
send the flash, and inside of four minutes we 
shall be at your side, and if you are on the 
track of these ruffians, we shall quickly be 
after you, following your paper trail. It is 


THE POLICE 


281 


most fortunate you are used to this paper 
chase sport/ ^ 

“ AU right, sir; I’U do my part, never fear/' 

I know it. I do place implicit confidence 
in you, Roger; but once again before you start, 
let me say that my own son or young Dobson 
will wilhngly take your place — " 

“ No, no, sir," Roger interrupted. Green- 
apple is a countryman of mine. It is my place, 
my privilege to go." 

I wish I could go, too," Dobson muttered. 
“ I ought to go with Yank, you know." 

‘‘ Only one may go," the inspector announced 
with decision, and if there’s to be any talk 
over it. I’ll send one of my men, though I 
must say as the young gent from ’cross the pond 
is the chap best fitted for the job." 

“It is all decided," Roger said quietly. 
“ I am going, and going alone. Dob. So long; 
give the signal as soon as you get mine." 

Next moment the dark grove of firs had 
swallowed up Roger. 


CHAPTER XXXIII 


AN EARLY MORNING PAPER CHASE 

The party in the car alighted, and the in- 
spector and one of his men rapidly placed in 
position a small switchboard, just off the road. 

'' Now, no talking, please, gentlemen,’^ com- 
manded the officer. 

In the distance they could hear the sharp, 
breaking of twigs, and the lessening footfalls 
of the American, as he rapidly placed the 
distance between them. 

Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes passed without 
sound or signal. Half an hour went by, and 
then suddenly, sounding almost loud in that 
great stillness, there came a swift: Tap, tap, 
tap,” of the little hammer on the muffled gong. 

It was Roger giving his signal. He had 
arrived at his post. 

The inspector nodded and chmbed back into 
the car. The big motor had been backed far 
to one side into the gloom, completely hidden 
by the great forest firs. One constable re- 
mained lying upon the turf, with ear against 
the gong; the rest of the party were in the car. 


AN EARLY MORNING PAPER CHASE 283 

The minutes sped past with wearisome slow- 
ness. Every few minutes the weird hoot of 
an owl came from the stillness of the forest, 
and twice the waiting party were startled by 
the sudden scurry of a rabbit past them. The 
moon had gone down, and a great blackness 
enveloped everything. 

Presently Dobson, true to his Saxon stolidity, 
commenced to snore, and Jack Maxwell nudged 
him. 

Shut up,^^ he whispered, and Dobson sat 
up and gazed around in bewildered manner. 

Thirty minutes passed, and then, at a sign 
from the inspector, the other constable re- 
lieved his comrade at the signal-board. 

Slowly, slowly, the night hours passed, and 
then at last a faint, gray streak in the east 
told of the coming dawn. Every half-hour the 
watch at the signal-board was changed, but 
still no sign came from Roger. By this time he 
must, of course, have deposited his bag with 
its thousand sovereigns in the whispering niche, 
and have been keeping his lonely vigil at the 
forked paths for hours. The inaction was be- 
coming almost unbearable; the silence in- 
tolerable. 

But now, with the coming of the day, the 
country around them commenced to be alive 
with the twitter of birds and the chirp of 


284 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


insects, and then the sun, glorious and welcome, 
tipped the distant vale, and began slowly to 
climb into the heavens, flooding the whole 
country with his golden rays. 

Mr. Maxwell glanced at his repeater. It 
was seven minutes after six o’clock. 

Suddenly, with a noise that was starthng, 
came an incessant: tap, tap, tap,” and almost 
with the first alarm, the inspector had leaped 
swiftly to the turf, followed by a constable. 
Mr. Maxwell, his son and Dobson were in- 
stantly after him. The officer stopped and held 
up his hand savagely: No noise,” he hissed. 

The tapping had ceased. The man at the 
switch had scrambled to his feet, as the in- 
spector pushed past him and assumed the lead, 
and followed by his two men, Mr. Maxwell and 
the boys, he dove into the wood, and struck 
across country for the path toward the whisper- 
ing rock. 

“ Have your revolvers ready,” he whispered 
hoarsely. 

By the cross cut, at a dead run, in four 
minutes they reached the forked paths, the 
police officer in the lead. He stayed not a 
second, but followed at a trot the plainly 
defined track of white paper. 

Mr. Maxwell, unused to violent exertions, 
had been left in the rear, but the policemen and 


AN EARLY MORNING PAPER CHASE 285 

the two Henley boys were easily keeping up. 
Indeed, to the college lads, thoroughly at home 
at the game, the pace seemed slow, although 
the police inspector, stout and short of wind, 
was already fagging, though sticking gamely 
to the lead. 

The guiding paper led them immediately 
across the path and into the forest toward the 
sides of old Snowdon. The whispering niche 
was left far to their right. The leader^s pace 
had degenerated almost to a walk, and Dobson 
and Maxwell urged him to let them pass, but 
the older man resolutely refused. 

Let this long-legged chap and Max and me 
go on, and you two follow as fast as you can,^’ 
insisted Dobson, chafing at the slow pace. 

Still the inspector hesitated. 

If we come up with them, Yankfil be there, 
and we four can hold ’em, till you two get up, 
and there’s Mr. Maxwell behind, too,” Dobson 
went on, seeking to take the lead. 

Go on, then,” came the panted reply, and 
next moment Dobson, with the speedy Maxwell 
at his side, and the fresher of the two policemen 
at his heels, had taken up the pursuit at a 
furious pace. 

Now, then, come on. Max,” growled 
Dobson. 

Behind them were the inspector and the 


286 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


fagged policeman, with Mr. Maxwell still 
struggling along in the distance. 

“ Listen,’’ whispered Maxwell in his chum’s 
ear, I hear some one running! ” 

I know — I hear it, too. It must be Yank; 
see, his trail’s plain as a pike.” 

Go on, then,” urged Maxwell, “ we’re 
almost on top of him now.” 

The long-legged constable was still running 
with them. Keep on,” he insisted; we’re 
getting ’em.” 

There was no intention on the part of the 
boys of stopping; instead, they increased their 
pace, and a moment later caught sight of Roger, 
trotting along rather slowly, and every moment 
or so casting back a glance over his shoulder. 
He waved his hand as he saw them, and, with 
new vigor, they set sail to overtake him. A 
moment later he dropped to his knees, and held 
up his hand for caution. The Henley boys, 
followed by the one pohceman, crawled rapidly 
towards him. 

'' There I There I They’ve sat down — see, 
they’ve opened the bag! ” panted Roger. 

The little party, concealed behind a dense 
screen of blackberry bushes, gazed out across 
an open space, and beyond that to another 
thicket, behind which three heads could be 
distinctly seen. 


AN EARLY MORNING PAPER CHASE 287 

'' They’ve opened it; I heard the coin clink. 
Where’s the inspector? ” whispered Roger. 

“ Coming up behind, and the other police- 
man, and Max’s dad.” 

ShaU we rush em? ” 

No, no, wait; wait till they move,” ob- 
jected Jack Maxwell. 

“ Only two came to get the bag, but another 
joined them,” went on Roger. 

But where’s Green? ” 

Must have hid him up there.” Roger 
pointed Snowdonward. 

Now, you wait; wait till the inspector comes 
up, young gents,” insisted the constable. 

They could hear the officer now almost up 
to them, and then came the other constable. 

Down, down, keep low,” whispered the 
inspector. 

He was watching keenly the three indistinct 
figures through the screen of greenwood. We 
must flank ^em and get ’em in a net,” he mut- 
tered. Will you three young gents make a 
sweep, and get in their rear. Wffien you’re 
well back, spread out and come down on them; 
we’ll close in from here, and seal ’em up. 
Don’t shoot without you’ve got to, but if 
they show fight, take ho chances, but bring 
’em down.” 

Tell ’em, sir, to be careful not to shoot 


288 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


into us, if they^re at the back of the kidders,’^ 
suggested the long-legged constable. 

But the boys had already dived into the gray 
forest, in a wide sweeping movement. A few 
moments later the waiting policemen were 
joined by Mr. Maxwell, who came panting up 
behind them. 

Where are the boys? ” he demanded. 

“ Shoo — not so loud, sir. WeVe got the 
rogues cornered over there, and your young 
gents have gone to drive them down or head 
them off as the case may be. Now, spread out; 
Adams, you to the right, and Kemp to the left; 
you stay with me, sir — got your revolver? 

The party had advanced but a few steps 
when the figmes of the three men were seen to 
arise, as if they had completed the task on 
which they had been employed. They turned 
their backs to the constable’s party and com- 
, menced to tramp northward toward old Snow- 
don. 

They’ll run into the lads in a few minutes, 
and we want to be close in,” muttered the in- 
spector. Close in, men, quick! quick! No 
noise.” 

Meanwhile Roger and his companions had, 
by fast work, made a wide circuit, and ob- 
tained an advantageous position between the 
kidnapers and the mountain. Then they 


AN EARLY MORNING PAPER CHASE 289 

turned about and commenced to envelope them. 
Roger was in the center, Dobson to his right, 
and Maxwell on the left. 

Apparently with little thought that they were 
being trapped, or even followed, the three men 
came along without caution. Their right- 
hand member, a burly-looking man, was carry- 
ing the black bag with its thousand golden 
sovereigns, and the weight was giving him no 
difficulty, for he was swinging it almost jauntily. 
The center figure, a Httle larger than his com- 
panion and wearing a close-cropped beard, 
turned and said something to his mate, point- 
ing toward the mountain, as he spoke. Then 
the fellow on the left joined in the conversa- 
tion, but the distance was too great for the 
boys to distinguish what was said. The rogues 
were following an almost overgrown bridle- 
path, and Roger motioned for his companions 
to close in and bar its way. They slunk along 
under cover of the thick scrub and brambles* 
until the passageway of the oncoming men was 
closed. Peering ahead, Dobson saw for a 
moment the form of one of the constables now 
within a hundred yards of the rear of the kid- 
napers. The crisis must come soon. 

Suddenly Roger, who had been intently 
studying the advancing men, gave a start. 

Dob,” he whispered, with bated breath, 


290 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


that middle chap’s Dutton — ^ Bunny ’ Dut- 
ton!” 

Dobson gave his chiun an incredulous stare, 
then focused his gaze upon the man in the 
middle. A moment’s scrutiny satisfied him. 
Without doubt it was “ Bunny ” Dutton, the 
Hamenchelt publican and billiard saloon keeper! 

They were too close now to permit of talking. 
Another twenty paces and they must disclose 
themselves. The boys braced themselves, 
each with a grip on their revolvers, for action. 
Fifteen paces; now ten. 

Roger caught another glimpse of one of the 
inspector’s party, now less than fifty yards 
in the rear of the kidnapers. The rogues 
were almost upon them now! The moment 
had arrived! 

Throw up your hands!” yelled Roger, 
disclosing himself, and leveling his weapon at 
the nearest of the three. Dobson and Maxwell 
covered the others. 

The surprise was overwhelming. The man 
with the bag flung it from him, and started 
to run, but Maxwell brought him to a halt with 
a threat to fire. 

Dutton, as soon as the first shock was over, 
endeavored to carry matters off with a joke. 
The scamp knew Roger well, having met him 
several times when the American had occasion 


AN EARLY MORNING PAPER CHASE 291 


to visit his saloon after some Henley ne’er- 
do-well. 

Well, well, Mister Jackson,” he gurgled, ex- 
tending a perspiring palm, as if to shake. 
’O’d ’ave thought er seein’ you hup ’ere! ” 

Shut up, Dutton,” ordered Roger curtly, 
the game’s up; you’re nabbed.” 

Game! Wot game? ” innocently began Mr. 
Dutton, but his speech was cut short by the 
rush of the police officers, who quickly secured 
their three prisoners. The man on the left was 
the only one 'who showed any fight, but for a 
while he made things busy for all. Whipping 
an ugly-looking knife from his belt, he made 
a savage pass at the inspector, and it took the 
united efforts of the two constables to get the 
handcuffs on him. Dutton, when he saw the 
overwhelming force, gave up like a lamb. The 
fellow was a cad, and a rank coward. He had 
thought himself secure when he dispatched 
his two confederates to get the bag containing 
the money. If there was to be any trouble, 
it would occur then, so the pubhcan figured, and 
he would have time to make his escape, leav- 
ing his two allies to bear all the danger. Things 
had gone wrong with Mr. Dutton at Hamen- 
chelt of late. Every horse he had backed had 
lost, and he was in danger of seeing “ the man 
in possession ” sitting in his bar soon. In these 


292 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


desperate circumstances, the rich American 
boy had crossed his path. He had seen the 
amount of cash he carried on his person, and 
the brilliant idea of kidnaping him had come 
to his mind. Here was a chance to make a 
clear thousand pounds. He had inveigled two 
cronies into the scheme, one of them with a 
grievance against Greenapple, the nature of 
which will appear soon, and after shadowing 
the boy for some days had finally succeeded in 
getting him alone and off his guard at the 
whispering niche. They had prepared their 
plans very carefully, and caught Greenapple 
entirely at a disadvantage, with his head 
thrust into the hole, on the point of whisper- 
ing to Roger on the far side. To smother a 
sack over his head and secure him had been 
not so easy as they thought, for the boy put 
up a savage fight. But it was three to one, and 
that one with his head in a sack. After a 
terrible two-minute tussle, they secured Green- 
apple, but not till he had fought them bhndly 
light across the path into the forest. Then 
at last a blow on the head from a rock had 
knocked him senseless, and they dragged him 
off to the rendezvous on the mountain. 


CHAPTER XXXIV 


THE MYSTERY SOLVED 

Well, well — I — I never did! gasped 
Dutton, with great surprise, when the in- 
spector opened the bag and asked him to ac- 
count for its golden contents. Where’d 
they come from? 

It is odd, now, ain’t it? ” the officer chuckled. 

“ Fact is,” continued Dutton, “ me and me 
friends was just hout fer a morning walk, w’en 
we comes ’cross this bag, sitting right on the 
ground by the falls, and Tony, ’ere, says, 
says ’e, ' Some gent must ’ave gone away and 
fergotten it after ’e’s bin a-whispering.’ ^ Aye, 
just leave hit there,’ says Hi, but ’e would bring 
it ’long, ’opin’ as ’e’d find the honer.” 

Well, you’ve found him all right; you 
needn’t look any more. Hold your hands out.” 

Hit’s the ’oly truth Hi’m a-telling,” Mr. 
Dutton swore, as the bracelets were fastened 
on his wrists. 

Now then, no more moonshine from any 
of you. Just go straight ahead and show us 


294 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


where youVe got him; shortest way, too, or 
it will only be the worse for you in the long run,” 
commanded the inspector. 

Dutton, a cur to the last, commenced to 
whine. If I peaches and tells hall I knows, 
will yer let me hoff hght? ” he sniveled. 

Now I warn you,” the officer said, holding 
up his hand, “ that anything you say now 
and here will be used against you at your trial, 
so be careful.” 

But Dutton was bent on trying to curry 
favor by telling all. We got ’im up ter the 
cave at the ^ther side,” he whined on. 

“ If me hands was loose, blowed if I wouldn’t 
crack ye one, yer dog,” threatened the fellow 
who had put up the fight. 

“ Don’t listen ter ’im, Mr. Inspector. I’m 
a-telling you hall I knows, and I’ll take yer 
right straight ter th’ cave and get the young 
gent fer you if yer’ll promise ter speak fer me 
at the trial and get me off hght; I didn’t mean 
no ’arm ter the young gent; I was only ’aving 
a bit o’ fun.” 

I’d crack his pate fer him, if I had my way,” 
growled the other man. 

Inspector,” interrupted Roger, IVe seen 
both these men before; this fellow Dutton, 
and the one who’s just spoken. I’ve seen them 
both at Hamenchelt.” 


THE MYSTERY SOLVED 


295 


That's a lie; you never seen me there. I 
never been hout o' Wales in me life," snarled 
the man. 

“ Yes, I have," Roger affirmed. I've seen 
you. I'll tell you where. It was in the quad- 
rangle at Henley College, and you were work- 
ing for Greenapple as a carpenter, and he fired 
you. I remember quite well now." 

'' Ugh, you're dotty," growled the man. 

“ Yes, you're right. Mister Jackson," babbled 
Dutton; he's the man. His name's Carr, and 
he's the chap as got up this 'ere affair ter steal 
the young gent." 

'' You — you liar! " stormed the man, making 
a sudden dash at Dutton. 

The officers pulled him back after a tussle. 

Now then, get a move on you," commanded 
the inspector, “ and take us to where you have 
this young man; the quicker and straighter 
you take us the better it will be for you all. 
Move along; smartly now." 

Dutton was only too glad to show the way. 
He reafized how completely the game was up, 
and now sought only to curry favor by turn- 
ing informer. The two other men remained 
sullen and taciturn. 

In less than an hour's tramp they arrived 
at the base of the great mountain. 

'E's hin there," Dutton said, pointing to 


296 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


a small opening in the rocks. They got a 
cow chain on ’im. Garr and the other bloke 
put hit hon.” 

Green! Green! yelled the boys in chorus. 

“ Hello/^ came a familiar voice from inside. 

Hump yourselves and let me loose; I want to 
get my hands on those chaps; I hear their 
voices; now ITl get even with them.’’ 

It sounded very natural — very much like 
the old Greenapple. With one accord the Hen- 
ley boys scrambled inside. It was dark and 
at first they could distinguish nothing, but all 
could hear the imprisoned boy threatening 
dire vengeance on his abductors, as soon as 
he should get loose; and when finally he was 
unlocked, it took the united efforts of the three 
officers to prevent him fulfilling his vow. 

Later, after the three prisoners had been 
safely taken to Carnarvon gaol, and Mr. 
Maxwell had brought the three boys back to 
Hatherly Court in his car, Greenapple told the 
story of his startling experiences. He related 
it in his short, jerky style, and there were many 
gaps to be filled in, but what the narrative 
lacked in detail, it made up for in its dramatic, 
surprising conclusion. 

Just got my head in that fool whispering 
crack and was trying to make Jackson hear 
me, when those chaps collared me from behind. 


THE MYSTERY SOLVED 


297 


and before I could get out to attend to them, 
they had a rope round my hands, and then 
rammed a gag into my mouth and a sack over 
my head, and hustled me away. I was rather 
used up in the rough house, and they must 
have cracked me over the head, for I can't 
account for much of the time until I found 
myself in that cave, and that old cow chain 
made fast to me. You chaps all know the 
rest, but there's one thing you don't know." 
What? " demanded Dobson. 

Greenapple's homely face expanded into a 
malevolent grin. 

Why, that fellow, Carr, that surly brute, is 
the fellow who cut the flagstaff down. He — " 
He is! " cried the lads in unison. 

That's what I said." 

“ How do you know. Green? " 

I am going to tell you if you'll wait. 
I recognized him as soon as I set eyes on him 
in the cave, for all he had his face partially 
concealed by a dirty handkerchief, and then 
later I heard them all talking among themselves 
outside. He's one of the first chaps I fired 
when I was putting up that flagstaff, and that's 
why he had it in for me. He and that dirty 
loafer, Dutton, concocted the whole scheme 
down in the saloon on North Street. Oh, I 
had a good chance to hear all about it, for they 


298 HENLEY'S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


talked on outside for over an hour after they 
got me fixed. If I could only have got at the 
beggars, wouldn't I have laid them out! " 

‘‘ Well, I guess they’ll get all that’s coming 
to them,” commented Roger, but why, why. 
Green, did he cut it down; I don’t see that yet.” 

I tell you he was mad because I wouldn’t 
let him loaf all day, and because I bounced 
him, so he sneaked up at night and cut the 
thing down just out of pure, darned cussedness 
and spite — confound him! — he and another 
workman, with Dutton keeping watch.” 

Well, what had this kidnaping got to do 
with that? ” asked Maxwell. 

“ Oh, that’s on another tack. That was 
simply a scheme to get an easy thousand. They 
thought you fellows would plank down the 
yellow boys, and I was afraid you would, when 
I overheard how they’d worked it. That scamp, 
Dutton, drew up the scheme, but Carr was his 
right-hand man, and had more nerve than 
Dutton.” Greenapple clenched his fists. I’ll 
get level with them now for it,” he threatened. 

'' Oh, forget it. They’ve got trouble enough 
on their hands now; it’s penal servitude for 
all three of them, you know.” 

'' Well, there’s one thing I must do as cap- 
tain of Henley,” Roger announced, and that 
is to get a written confession from them, if 


THE MYSTERY SOLVED 


299 


I can. I want that so Green can be cleared 
before all the chaps at Henley. Of course, we 
all believe in Green, but we want him publicly 
cleared, eh. Dob? ” 

Rather,’^ agreed Dobson and Maxwell 
together. 


CHAPTER XXXV 


THE CHARADE 

It was wonderful how naturally and quickly 
the boys fell back into school life after their 
adventurous holiday, and yet more wonderful 
was the niche Solomon Greenapple appeared 
to have carved for himself at Henley. That 
short voyage and holiday appeared, as Dobson 
put it, “ to have made a Henley fellow of 
Green.^’ The barrier of misunderstanding that 
had stood between him and his schoolfellows 
was swept away, and he found himself in sym- 
pathy and unison with them. Now and again 
some of that something, which at Henley went 
under the name of edge,^^ would crop out 
in the red-headed American, but his power 
of self-control had noticeably increased, and he 
had, to quote Dobson again, got himself 
well in hand.’^ 

I told you so,’^ Roger triumphantly told 
his chum. “ I knew Green would come out all 
right; we just didn’t understand him, that was 
the trouble.” 


THE CHARADE 


301 


Well, I don’t see why he was such a beast 
of a bear at first/’ complained Dobson. 

Because we baited him a lot, for one thing, 
but I’m jolly glad we’ve all of us rounded into 
shape now, for Green’s going to make a bully 
fine show at Oxford, I know; and, say. Dob, have 
you noticed him in his outrigger of late? ” 

No,” drawled Dobson. 

Well, get down to the river good and early 
one morning, and twig him; it’ll do your eyes 
good.” 

So? ” 

“ Bet your sweet life. I watched him, and 
the way he pulls his sculls through is a wonder. 
He held Murray to half a length over the full 
course the other morning, and the old man was 
extending himself, too.” 

I noticed young Hanks has gone back to 
fag for him,” observed Dobson, with a grin. 

Rather, and he’s treating the kid all right 
this time. Hanks swears by him now. By 
the way, look what I got from Hanks this 
morning.” 

What is it? ” demanded Dobson, grabbing 
the note the captain extended, and reading: 

To Roger Jackson, Esq., School Captain. 

Dear Sir: — We, the undersigned fags of 
Murray’s House, desire to express our approval 


302 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


of your bully conduct in chasing down that 
cad, Dutton, and his gang in North Wales, 
and also, to show that we think you^re an all 
right skipper. So we hereby invite you and the 
other seniors of Murray’s House to attend an 
entertainment to be given by the house fags 
in the junior classroom to-night at 7 sharp, 
and promise you and the other chaps that 
you’ll have a bang-up time. 

Signed, 

Edwin Willoughby Brox-Hanks. 

James Kilby Brooks. 

M. J. F. C. Lamb (now in Murray’s). 

P. S. We’ve decided to invite Greenapple, 
too, because he seems to be trying to be decent.” 

The seniors laughed. 

All right, we’ll have to show up, of course,” 
was Dobson’s comment, as he handed the let- 
ter back to Roger. 

‘‘ Certs, and I’m glad the beggars had sense 
enough to invite Green,” concurred the captain. 

The junior classroom had been decorated on 
a scale of magnificence hitherto unattempted 
by the fags. Extension had been obtained 
until ten o’clock, and facing the entrance was 
a prominent sign advising the visitors, Spread 
at half time.” A stage had been erected at the 


THE CHARADE 


303 


far end, to conceal the supports of which all 
the available wall maps had been carefully 
tacked in a long row. A dozen bicycle lamps 
did duty as foothghts, and long sheets con- 
cealed the entrances on either side. The 
school motto, Faith and Courage,'' was 
conspicuously displayed at the center. 

I guess we'll need lots of that," commented 
Roger, as, in company with the other invited 
guests, he took his seat in the post of honor. 

The violent ringing of a bell announced the 
entertainment was on, and young Brooks ad- 
vanced briskly towards the center of the 
stage. 

'' Now, you chaps," he announced, “ the 
first thing on the programme is a four-round 
scrap between that new Jew kid, Jacobs, who 
rather fancies himself with the gloves, and our 
champion, Fuller, who, of course, as you fel- 
lows know, is a grandson of General Fuller, 
who gave the Afghans fits. It's at catch-weights, 
and I shall give a decision at the end of the four 
rounds. Get busy, you chaps." 

The new Jew kid, Jacobs," and his oppo- 
nent immediately showed they intended to 
get busy " by rushing in from each side, 
and dispensing with the usual formality of a 
handshake, or any other preamble, commenced 
to pummel each other furiously, Brooks skip- 


304 HENLEY^S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

ping around and pulling them apart when they 
clung with too much tenacity in the chnches. 
It was a hot fight, undoubtedly, but the prom- 
ised four rounds developed into one prolonged 
one, as the principals refused to obey the bell, 
and kept furiously pummehng each other 
until utterly exhausted, when the referee an- 
nounced it was A draw, and now, you fellows. 
Hanks will sing: ^Love’s old, sweet way/ 
Come on. Hanks/ ^ 

Some little confusion ensued in the effort 
to hustle the two combatants off the stage, but 
eventually this was successfully accomplished, 
and Mr. Hanks rendered the selection to the 
satisfaction of all. 

“ A recitation from Mr. M. J. F. G. Lamb, 
who has had the sense to get put in our house, 
and leave those cads at Dole’s,^^ was the 
M. C.^s next announcement. What’re you 
going to give us. Sheep? ” 

Sheep,” looking rather sheepish, mumbled 
he thought he’d recite Curfew shall not ring 
to-night,” at which announcement serious op- 
position developed on the part of the chair- 
man, because it was so bally stale, you know,” 
and eventually the selection was changed to 

one he’d made up himself,” an alleged satire 
on one Jones, who was right-hand sleeping mate 
to the speaker, and who was described as a 


THE CHARADE 


305 


stingy beast.’’ This was received with jubi- 
lant shouts, the unfortunate Jones being, ap- 
parently, unpopular with all. 

“ Now then, you fellows, comes the best 
thing,” exclaimed the chairman. We’re going 
to put on a charade, and you’ve got to guess 
what it is. Just keep quiet a bit, and don’t 
begin to shout if we’re rather long getting ready, 
and, anyway, you’re going to have something 
now to wet your whistles with. Pass the pop 
around, Halford and Wheeler; it’s all you’ve 
got to do to-night, and don’t drink any your- 
selves first, until you see if there’s enough to 
go round.” 

This highly popular intermission was a great 
success; in fact, it had scarcely concluded when 
the chairman announced: 

All ready, keep quiet, here they come! ” 

A most astonishing apparition limped upon 
the stage from the wings.” It appeared to 
be a feathered thing, but its legs were encased 
in some sort of a leather covering, and from 
each foot projected four quill pens. It had no 
arms, but from its rear a great feather duster 
projected rakishly. A partially opened um- 
brella, from which the handle had been re- 
moved, and on which had been painted two 
eyes, enveloped the thing’s head. This gro- 
tesque apparition stumbled lamely across the 


306 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

stage from left to right, remained in hiding a 
brief moment, and then advanced towards the 
center again. There it settled calmly down, 
at the same time uttering loud sounds, imita- 
tive of a rooster’s crowing. Immediately 
there were shouts of disapproval from the 
wings, and an authoritative voice proclaimed: 

Stop that. Banks, you idiot; you must cackle, 
not crow,” whereat the sounds degenerated 
into a series of heart-breaking cackles. “ That’s 
enough,” commanded the same voice, don’t 
stay there forever; come off, and don’t forget 
to leave it.” The apparition arose leaving 
behind it, as it waddled off the stage, three 
white eggs — that is, there were three, but 
unfortunately, in the excitement, it stepped on 
one oval, and instantly the floor was stained 
a rich, golden yellow, at which disaster there 
were more exclamations of disapproval. 
Idiot,” “ Silly ass,” etc. 

Now, that means something; we’ve given 
you two syllables, and you’ve got to guess 
what they are,” explained the stage manager, 
and here’s the next one.” 

Three boys in gymnasium suits bounded 
briskly to the center. Two stood back to 
back, their legs were thrown far forward, their 
hands grasped a swinging ring above their 
heads. The third boy firmly enfolded his hands 


THE CHARADE 


307 


about one waist, his legs about the other, 
remaining thus a full thirty seconds. 

'' Oh, that’s easy, an A,” came cries from the 
audience. 

“ Ah, but you haven’t got the first two,” 
jeered the worthy chairman. 

Something to do with a cock or a fowl,” 
some one suggested. 

“ Or eggs,” cried another. 

“ Well, you remember it all, and wait,” 
came the command. 

Immediately following his words came a 
crowd of four youngsters, all laughing boister- 
ously. They seated themselves in the center, 
and laughed and laughed and laughed. That 
was all they did, but the laughter was con- 
tagious, and soon the entire audience was hold- 
ing its sides. 

That’s another syllable,” yelled the M. C., 
as soon as he could make his voice heard above 
the din. Have you got it? ” 

Something about laughing, of course,” 
called back a boy. 

’Tisn’t, ’tisn’t,” repudiated the manager. 

Now get ready for the next.” 

The next ” was a very simple affair. A 
small can of condensed milk was solemnly 
deposited upon the stage, and as solemnly 
left there, while the audience gazed in wonder. 


308 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

That^s one,” shouted young Brooks, as he 
retrieved the can; “ have you got it? ” 

'' A fowl, a laugh, an A and a tin,’' muttered 
Dobson to his chum. '' I can’t make much 
of that, can you, Yank? ” 

'' That isn’t a tin, I think. It might be a 
can and the fowl a hen,” suggested Roger. 

Next a cricket cap was tossed upon the stage, 
and then ten boys marched in solemn step 
across the boards. 

'' There,” shouted the chairman, those 
are the syllables of the words, and now we’ll 
put the whole on, and then see if you get it. 
Get busy with the pop if there’s any left, be- 
cause it’ll take a minute or so to fix the whole 
up.” 

It took nearly fifteen minutes to present 
the whole, during which interval the audience 
discussed the possible solutions of the charade. 
Then a grotesque figure stalked on, and as it 
did so, Roger leaped from his seat. 

My best suit! ” he yelled, in accusing wrath. 

I wondered where it had gone to ; I looked 
for it everywhere.” 

Quiet, quiet, please be quiet, Jackson; he 
won’t hurt it,” pleaded the worthy chairman. 

Try and think what it is.” 

^^No doubt about it,” muttered the captain, as 
he subsided into his seat, it’s my best suit.” 


THE CHARADE 


309 


Ah, an idea,’’ exclaimed Dauncy, leaning 
forward and whispering a few words to Roger. 

The figure on the stage stalked back and 
forth. Then it took from its pocket a small 
American flag and tacked it to the back drapery. 
Then it posed itself. It was dressed in the cap- 
tain’s best suit; it had the captain’s cap upon 
its head, it even attempted to imitate the cap- 
tain’s walk and carriage. Its face had been 
rouged and powdered, and a smudge of char- 
coal rubbed across its upper lip. It was evi- 
dently intended to represent Roger Jackson. 
It stalked off. The charade was concluded. 

Now guess, all of you, what it is,” invited 
the chairman. 

A great babel arose from the spectators. 
Every one talked at the same time. 

A fowl lays a laughing tin of milk — can’t 
see anything in that, eh? ” demanded the per- 
plexed Dobson, his expressionless face puckered 
up into a map of Ireland. 

What’s the last thing; where does Jackson 
and the American flag come in? ” demanded 
another. 

'' Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman, permit me to 
hazard a guess,” sounded Dauncy’s voice, and 
as soon as silence was obtained, It is Henley s 
American Captain,” he said. 

''Right! Right! How did you guess it? 


310 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Good! All right! came the cries from the 
performers. 

It is thus/’ solemnly pronounced the 
Murray House debater. “ Hen-lays-a-merry- 
can-cap-ten. Henley’s American Captain.” 

Tremendous hubbub ensued, amidst which 
cries of Right, right you are, sir,” assured the 
guesser his solution was correct. 

“ I’d have got it, I think, if they hadn’t put 
that old tin of milk on. Who’d have thought 
of calling that a can ? ” complained Dobson. 

Those chaps all laughing put me off,” 
confessed Bradbury. 

They formed the ^ merry,’ ” said Green- 
apple, standing up and shaking the captain’s 
hand. Quite a compliment, I’m sure. Jack- 
son.” 

The captain was on his feet now, and in- 
stantly cries of “ A speech. A speech!” re- 
sounded through the room. 

Oh, there’s no time for a speech,” shouted 
Roger, but I want to thank you fellows — 
all of you; it was rattling well done, and as 
Greenapple says, quite a compliment. I for- 
give you now for cribbing my suit.” 

Ten o’ ! ” came the stentorian shout of 
Sergeant Glum, and with more cheers for Hen- 
ley’s American Captain, the company broke up. 


CHAPTER XXXVI 


FINALE — UNDER TWO FLAGS 

Once more it was Speech Day at Henley. 

The long term was at an end, and now the 
summer vacation loomed joyously before the 
boys. 

It was Roger’s and Dobson’s last day at 
the old school. It was many another boy’s, 
too. A strong contingent of Henley boys left 
this break-up to take their places at the uni- 
versities or in the great world outside. Green- 
apple would remain until Christmas, and then 
go on to Oxford. So would Maxwell, but Dobson 
was going straight to Sandhurst, and Roger 
to join his father in India. 

There was a great gathering of the boys and 
their friends. Hamenchelt was alive with the 
college colors, and the gray old pile of Henley 
was gay with masses of red and black; while 
above it all, pointing high into the cloudless, 
blue sky for one hundred and seventy feet, 
reared a great pole. It was the new flagstaff, 
subscribed for by the college boys. 


312 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 

From all over the grounds came a babel of 
shouts and cries, as the juniors raced excitedly 
about, and the seniors conducted their people 
from interest point to interest point. 

Presently from out of the cool, inviting shade 
of the college Classic a strong party of 
seniors came strolling across the ^quadrangle 
towards the flagstaff. 

There was Roger Jackson, gorgeous in all 
the full regalia of captain’s uniform (it would 
be the last time he would wear it). Then came 
Dobson, in company with the three other house 
captains, with their insignia of office, and a 
mixed house crowd of the seniors of Henley. 
There was Andrew Cossock-Cossock, and Brad- 
bury, and toothpick ” Dauncy, looking taller 
and thinner than ever, and there was Solomon 
Greenapple, now resplendent in an all-black 
Eton jacket and silk hat — Henley’s full dress. 
The red-headed American appeared to be un- 
easy, however. I felt like a dressed-up mon- 
key,” he wrote back to his father at home. 
Dauncy, with whom he was walking, sfipped his 
arm into his, and escorted him — an oddly as- 
sorted couple. 

Gome on. Green, be a trump, and oblige 
the fellows,” he urged. 

At the base of the new flagstaff the party 
halted. From the playing field and playground 


FINALE — UNDER TWO FLAGS 


313 


came a babel of shouts. The captain spoke to 
his fag, young Brooks, who placed a bugle to 
his hps, and sent out an authoritative blast. It 
was the captain^s call for a general assembly. 
Again and again the bugle sounded, and at 
each blare the din from the surrounding fields 
became less, while by twos and threes, by 
sixes and dozens, all Henley came trooping 
into the quadrangle, accompanied by their 
visiting friends, and from a window here and 
a doorway there, the black-gowned form of 
some master emerged into view. 

The flag-raising! The flag-raising!’^ the 
cry ran all around, and as soon as order was 
obtained the elongated figure of Augustus 
Dauncy was discerned mounted upon a barrel 
draped with the school colors. 

He was greeted by a thunder of deafening 
cheers, which gradually subsided, as he stood 
waiting with upraised hand, for silence. 

Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, and his 
voice was heard in every corner of the quad- 
rangle, for Dauncy had all the tricks of the 
orator at his command, with a magnificent 
range of voice. First on behalf of the boys 
of Henley I want to thank you for attending 
to witness their flag-raising. We Henley fel- 
lows always like to have our friends with us 
when we do anything of importance, you know, 


314 


HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


and really this is an important occasion for 
Henley. Important to all Henley, and more 
important, perhaps, to one boy here, in par- 
ticular. 

Ladies and gentlemen, for one whole term 
we have been without a flagstaff, and for one 
whole term the school has missed its staff. 
Now we have one subscribed for by voluntary 
contribution from the entire school, and it 
is to take the place of a staff presented to 
Henley last term by one of our number — 
Greenapple — who now stands by my side. 
We have requested him to raise the flag, or 
rather, flags, I should say, for we intend, out 
of compliment to him, to raise the flags of two 
nations side by side — the ensigns of Great 
Britain and the United States. We intend, 
ladies and gentlemen, that Henley shall spend 
the last day of this term under the flags of 
two nations — the two greatest and most pro- 
gressive nations on this globe (Great cheering). 

All we boys are familiar with the history 
of the last flagstaff presented to us by Green- 
apple, but some of you visitors may not be 
(Cries of “ Shame, shame! Yes, it was a 
shame, gentlemen — a shame in more ways 
than one. A shame that the pole was cut down, 
and a shame that we undertook to fasten the 
blame for the outrage upon the generous donor 


FINALE — UNDER TWO FLAGS 315 

(Hear, hear, sir). I do not wish on this great 
day, when so many of us are leaving, to cast 
a shadow upon the festivities, so I will say no 
more, except to tender to Solomon Greenapple, 
on behalf of all Henley, its sincere regret that 
it cast any suspicion upon him. I hold in my 
hand a paper signed by every boy in this col- 
lege, in which that regret is expressed. I will 
not read it, for it is lengthy and goes into de- 
tails, but believe me, ladies and gentlemen, it 
is sincere, and unless we boys had been sincere 
we would not have taken this public way of 
expressing our regret (Terrific applause). 

Now ladies and gentlemen, and you fel- 
lows, as a compliment to the donor of the de- 
mohshed flagstaff, we propose to do something 
that has never been done at this college before, 
but we have the doctor^s authority for it; we 
propose to hoist side by side with our own 
Union Jack the Stars and Stripes of the United 
States (Great applause and long-continued 
cheering). 

Many of us boys are saying good-by to the 
old school to-day. This is our last day at Hen- 
ley. The captain goes. The house captains 
go, but it matters not (Yes, yes). No, no, 
gentlemen. There are as good fish in the sea 
as ever came out, you know. We had requested 
Doctor Proctor to address you on this occasion, 


316 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


but his reply was that the flagstaff had always 
been a boys’ affair, and he dishked to make 
a new precedent by any interference. I may 
say, however, that our proceedings here to-day 
have his unqualified sanction. 

It appears to me, ladies and gentlemen, 
that this dual flag-raising is particularly appro- 
priate. This very month the United States 
Secretary of State and the British Ambassador 
at Washington have, as all of you are aware, 
signed an unqualified treaty of everlasting 
peace between these two nations. Henceforth 
the British Empire and the United States will 
dwell in peace. What fitter celebration of this 
momentous event could we at Henley make 
than by hoisting our own red, battle-scarred 
ensign — ‘ the flag that’s braved a thousand 
years the battle and the breeze ’ — with the 
starry banner of our great sister across the 
Atlantic. God bless that starry banner, ^ and 
long may it wave o’er the land of the free and 
the home of the brave.’ 

Ladies and gentlemen, I have great pleasure 
in introducing to you Mr. Solomon Greenapple, 
one of our American students, who will hoist 
the flags — all ready, Greenapple.” 

Greenapple stepped smartly to the halyards. 
The two immense ensigns had previously been 
bent on, and next moment their gorgeous 


FINALE — UNDER TWO FLAGS 317 

colors were waving in the soft summer breeze, 
as they climbed up, up, up, on different 
halyards, side by side on the same pole to the 
summit of Henley College flagstaff, and there 
stayed, a fitting celebration of the peace that 
must ever reign between the people of the 
United States and those of Great Britain. 

The great day was over at last, and Henley 
was fast becoming a deserted place. In the 
snug corner of the sixth form classroom a 
little knot of Henley fellows were gathered 
bidding each other good-by. There was the 
captain, and Dobson and Maxwell, and Green- 
apple, and Dauncy and Cossock and Bradbury. 
In the main hall were piled many trunks. 

Good-by, old chaps, the captain said, 
almost unsteadily. 

“ Good-by, Yank, old boy,’^ mumbled Dob- 
son. Wonder when we shall meet again? 

Good-by, Green, old man.’’ 

Good-by, Jackson, good-by, and — and 
thanks for what you’ve done for me.” 

Good-by — good-by — good-by — ” 

The seniors left one by one, with a hand-grip 
and good wishes, and presently only Dobson 
and his chum were there. 

What time does your boat sail, Yank? ” 
inquired Dobson dolefully. 

Seven-thirty, old man.” 


318 HENLEY’S AMERICAN CAPTAIN 


Just about the time I’m getting home. I 
shall be thinking of you then, old boy. Won- 
der when we shall meet again, Yank? ” 

Never fear. Dob, we’ll meet again, sure,” 
came the cheery response, and with a last 
grip, Henley’s captain had gone. 

Dobson fumbled in his pocket and busied 
himself with a timetable. 

Little did the boy know under what dramatic 
circumstances his next meeting with the cap- 
tain would be, and little did Roger Jackson 
imagine, as, from the rail of his steamer, he 
watched the night gloom swallow up the re- 
ceding shore of the Isle of Wight, that the next 
meeting with his chum would spell life or death 
to him. 


THE END. 



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^*A rousing booJc for boys"^ 


MARTIN HYDE 
THE DUKE’S MESSENGER 


HyJOHN MASEFIELD 
16 illustrations by T. G. Dugdale. Cloth. $1.50 


A Monmouth story related in good Augustan English, 
suggestive of Defoe’s. — New York Times. 

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be desired, and the background is historic. 

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It is far above the average. — Literary Digest, New York. 

All that a book of adventure should be. It strikes the note 
of sincerity firmly and is true to boyish ideals. — Boston Herald. 

Surprising things happen and there are many hairbreadth 
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The best historical romance in several years. The historical 
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LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers 
34 Beacon Street, Boston 


Young Captains of Industry Series 


FOR THE NORTON NAME 


By HOLLIS GODFREY 
Illustrated. Cloth. $1.25 

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LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers 
34 Beacon Street, Boston 


rattling circus story 


REDNBY MoGAW 


By ARTHUR E. McFARLANE 

Author of “Great Bear Island, ” etc. 

Illustrated by Arthur W. Brown. $1.50 

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LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers 
34 Beacon Street, Boston 



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9 


OCT 4 1912 

















LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



